Jamshedpur: Power meter replacement work, being carried out by Jharkhand Bijli Vitran Nigam (JBVNL), in Jamshedpur circle has suffered a setback amid allegations that a sub-contractor roped in by an outsourced agency was fleecing consumers in Ramjanamnagar, Kadma.

The JBVNL had fielded Quess Corporation for the meter job in the entire Kolhan region and the private agency in turn offloaded the task to local contractors. One such contractor, Tarachand Constructions, bagged the job for Kadma area. However, a month and a half ago, workers of Tarachand began demanding Rs 300 from every household in Ramjanamnagar for meter replacement.

Under its agreement with JBVNL, Quess pays Rs 250 for every meter and receives Rs 500 for the same from the power utility. A JBVNL insider said Quess had offloaded the job to sub-standard contractors at a low price and that is why workers engaged by Tarachand were fleecing consumers.

Chairman-cum-managing director of JBVNL Nitin Madan Kulkarni had, in a letter addressed to general manager of JBVNL's Singhbhum supply area, directed lodging of an immediate FIR. General manager Amarnath Mishra asked his subordinate to do the same against four workers of Tarachand Constructions and also Quess Corporation on February 2.

Kadma thana OC Binod Paswan said they had registered a case, but were yet to make arrests. "We are looking for four workers who are accused of extorting money, the owner of Tarachand Constructions and supervisors of Quess," he added.

Superintending engineer of JBVNL's Jamshedpur circle Manmohan Kumar said the police case had affected meter replacement work.

"We were supposed to replace 16,000 metres in Jamshedpur circle by June. So far, only 7,000 have been replaced. Work had started in October last year. After the FIR at Kadma thana, Quess Corporation is being forced to use its limited manpower," he said.

Ranjit Kumar, project manager of Quess, conceded that meter replacement was running behind schedule. "We cannot guarantee completion within deadline," he said.