Ranchi, May 17: Jharkhand State Electricity Board today again deferred a decision on the implementation of the tariff recommended by Jharkhand State Electricity Regulatory Commission (JSERC).

In the board meeting today, the new energy secretary Vinod Agarwal, who replaced the earlier incumbent Sudhir Prasad, wondered why the board did not appeal against the recommendations within the stipulated 45 days, when it had reservations against the suggestions. He suggested that the board seek legal advice on moving Jharkhand High Court.

The energy secretary directed the board to expedite the matter as a daily fine of Rs 6,000 fine is being imposed on it by the regulatory commission. The matter would be placed before the board in its next meeting scheduled on May 24, JSEB sources said.

The JSEB is bound to implement the tariff notified by JSERC on December 27, 2003, say experts.

Board public relations officer said most of the items on today’s agenda were deferred for the next meeting. The board, however, approved the project for transmission system and a grid substation at Lalmatia, he said.

The matter of electrification of 2,000 villages by board engineers was also shelved till the next meeting. The board wanted to check out the budget provisions before giving its go-ahead, sources said.

The row has been continuing ever since the JSEB ignored the recommendations. A reminder was sent in January. When the board failed to respond, a showcause notice was slapped on it in February. On April 21, JSERC issued an order levying a fine of Rs 1 lakh and a daily penalty of Rs 6,000 if the new tariff was not implemented after the model code of conduct period was over. The fine would be levied from January 1, 2004, if the board does not implement the new tariff, the commission order said.