Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (DV)

Mangalore, Sep 14: The government has decided not to provide electricity connections to buildings constructed without land license or occupancy certificates issued by the urban development authority, said minister for energy D K Shivakumar.

He was addressing reporters at the circuit house during his visit to the city on Sunday September 14 to participate in an Onam programme organized by Kerala Samajam.

"So far, Escom engineers used to provide electricity to unauthorized buildings due to pressure. Henceforth, the government will take strict action in this regard. We will cancel all illegal connections," he said.

Regarding complaints about transformers on roadsides, he said, "The high court has observed that many transformers have been constructed on roadside. Apartments which are built on 5,000 sq ft of land are required to build transformers inside the compound."

He further added, "To improve efficiency in handling complaints and to prevent theft of electricity, the power ministry will form committees at constituency level headed by the MLA of the constituency. The
committee will have six members including consumers, women, members of OBC and others appointed by the government. Meetings will be held in the presence of executive engineers.

"Such committees will also be established at the gram panchayat level, and will be called section committees. This too will have six members headed by the assistant executive engineer," he added.

"Besides, a 24x7 helpline will be set up throughout the state with vehicles provided in all Escoms. Officials will have to act on complaints as soon as they receive them," he said.

He further said that the government's Nirantara Jyoti project is pending and a programme would be chalked out to complete it at the earliest.

"In Dakshina Kannada and Chikmaglur districts, electric poles have been damaged due to rain. The poles will be repaired within a week after the rain stops," Shivakumar said.

On Niddodi ultra mega power project, he said, "The union government is keen to implement the Niddodi project. If the people allow and cooperate, we will go ahead with the project with the consent of MLAs. But if the people do not want this project, we will scrap it.

"The problem is shortage of coal. Niddodi power project will save transport cost of coal and electricity will become cheaper," he said.