Pratyaya Amrit at the news meet in Patna on Sunday. Picture by Deepak Kumar

Newly appointed secretary of energy department and chairman-cum-managing director of Bihar State Power (Holding) Company Limited Pratyaya Amrit has set his priorities on making the sector people-friendly and increasing the efficiency to tackle crises.

Before taking charge of his new assignment, Amrit on Sunday interacted with journalists and apologised to the residents of the city for the ongoing power crisis for the past three days.

He is considered a performing IAS officer and had converted the Bihar Rajya Pul Nirman Nigam in to a profit-making organisation when he was given the charge. Now, Amrit has promised to make the department people-friendly. “It is my responsibility to solve the problems of the people. My priority would be to make the energy department people-friendly and remain connected to the residents. On behalf of my team, I apologise and I am extremely sorry for the power crisis being faced by the people in Patna,” he said.

The 1991 batch IAS officer also accepted that the energy sector is a challenging sector and improvements are needed.

“Although I have not joined as yet but I am monitoring work at several levels. I had a primary meeting with the engineers of Patna Electric Supply Undertaking. Give me some time to understand the situation in which I can decide which area to focus on. I assure to try to the best of my abilities. I assure you that the department would have a humane face. Just give us some time. All of us are concerned,” he said.

He also stressed upon completing ongoing projects in the state under which strengthening the distribution is being carried out. “The Restructured Accelerated Power Development and Reforms Programme would be completed. I admit that work was quite slow and the project should have been completed. I will find out why the work was stopped. Projects have to be completed on time or before time. My entire team is on alert and I will covert the challenges into opportunities.”

The priorities also include rural and urban electrification, and improve helpline and IT systems. “We have to create a plan to switch on to another system in the case of a crisis. On Saturday, I conducted a surprise inspection at a place where a damaged cable led to a crisis. I have spoken to Patna senior superintendent of police and it would be probed as to how it happened,” he added.

Pratyaya said information regarding power cuts would be published in newspapers in advance. Sanjay Kumar Singh, managing director, Bihar State Power Transmission Company Ltd and newly appointed managing director of South Bihar Power Distribution Company Limited R. Laxmanan were also present.