A traffic police officer in Ranchi works in candlelight on Friday. Picture by Manik Bose nSee R2

Ranchi, Nov. 2: The data for 2004-05 fiscal that the Jharkhand State Electricity Board (JSEB) provided to Jharkhand State Electricity Regulatory Commission (JSERC) differs from what it furnished to its auditor U. Narain & Co.

Despite JSERC’s repeated reminders, the board is yet to set up a task force to supervise the huge aggregate transmission and commercial (AT&C) loss in its command area. JSEB has not made any effort to undertake a study of the unmetered consumption of power in its command area, which could have enabled it to plug revenue losses.

The list is endless, which bears testimony to how JSEB is being managed ever since it came into existence in March 2001. It has failed to evolve any plan to boost generation, reduce AT&C loss and streamline industrial supply. The total AT&C loss is over 55 per cent due to rampant pilferage and use of worn-out machinery and gadgets.

In its audit report, U. Narain & Co. noted: “Internal control system at JSEB do not commensurate with the size of its operations. Consequently, details provided by two departments of the board are not in sync with each other.”

A section of JSEB officials suggested that commercial loss would come down drastically if the board just tapped each of its 1,000-odd high tension consumers (drawing power from 33 KV line) to install proper meters. “The HT category consumes about 64 per cent power the board supplies,” the officials said. “A section of such consumers are allegedly resorting to illegal ways in connivance with the vested elements within the board,” an official said.

Apparently irked by the present erratic supply, JSERC chairperson S.K.F. Kujur yesterday showcaused the board asking it to explain the power cuts. “Such power cuts without any intimation can lead to law and order problems,” Kujur wrote to board chairperson V.N. Pandey.

JSEB’s public relations officer S.S. Prasad said shortfall of supply from central pool by over 100MW had led to the crisis. But one wonders why JSEB depends on central pool when own planning can boost enough generation. Board insiders said JSEB had failed to make functional the PTPS units 7 and 8 by April 2007, which it had promised to JSERC. Only two units — 1 and 6 — are operational much below capacity.