Editor,
Through the columns of your esteemed daily, I wish to draw the attention of MeECL, Nongpoh, to the problem of frequent break down of electricity in this area. This letter is written out of years of frustration at the pathetic service of the Corporation. Growing instances of power failure for years on end have become a norm. One or two days of total blackout is a common occurrence. In a day, power is suspended on an average of six to seven times. In terms of power supply this is one of the worst districts in the state. Power comes and goes so often that it makes one wonder if the one sitting in the control room is in his right mind. On numerous occasions, especially at night, the whole area goes into total darkness without rhyme or reason. Though power failure is common, electricity bills always reach us on time. The common excuses given are thunderstorms and the four lane project. These reasons do not hold water because even without thunderstorm, the problem goes on as usual, and power cuts persisted even prior to the four lane project.
Students, patients, offices, banks, businesses and small industries suffer due to absence of electricity, although industries in Byrnihat area are exempted it seems! Moreover, electrical appliances are badly affected and damaged as a result. It is well known that many crimes and illegal activities are committed in Nongpoh and its vicinity during power failure. In short, we feel like we are living in hell or the dark ages.
Through this letter I plead to the higher authorities (Power Minister, Chief Minister, MLAs) and the NGOs to take up this matter urgently and solve this problem at the earliest so that we are spared further harassment and misery in the days to come.
Yours etc.,
Name withheld on request
MeECL where is the money you have robbed?
Editor,
This is a rejoinder to the article “JAC censures MeECL silence on inflated bills” (ST Oct 15, 2014). If one views the track record of these so-called Committees, ‘high level’, ‘action’, ‘joint-action’, etc, one find s that they are nothing more than political tools to obfuscate issues and push them under the carpet. In other words, they serve no meaningful purpose except to hide or delay issues. The JAC tasked with sorting out the MeECL billing issue has done nothing and achieved nothing, as was expected. Now that they have issued a press statement about their failure, it is only natural that they will attempt to bring closure with a few irrelevant observations and recommendations. These politicians really have no respect for public intellect. They truly believe everyone will swallow the hogwash freely dished out by such Committees! All this time, MeECL and Clement Marak have been showing scant respect to Paul Lyngdoh and the JAC by continuing to super-inflate consumer bills even while the Committee was purportedly investigating the matter. Any complaints to MeECL are being summarily dismissed with a curt note that the billing is correct. At the same time, MeECL reassures consumers by telling them that the bills would come down in future. A weird contradiction indeed! I think the issue here is not merely ‘technical’ as MeECL claims. It is more than that. It is a moral issue of intentionally overcharging the public on the flimsy argument of a technical hitch. One gets the whiff of a scam behind it. I wonder where this extra amount is being siphoned off? Perhaps the High Court would be kind enough to take suo moto cognizance of the issue in order to relieve the general public of the burden of inflated electricity bills. On the JAC and the Govt, I pin no hope at all!
Yours etc.,
Charles Dohling
Shillong -4
Wanted transparency in MeECL promotions
Editor,
This is to draw the attention of all readers to the procedures adopted by the MeECL in promoting officers particularly in the Electrical wing. As per norms, promotions are based on seniority – cum – merit, wherein a Departmental Promotion Committee has been constituted to select candidates who are meritorious for a promotion. The merit is derived based on the Quarterly Self Appraisal Report submitted by the officers on their performance during the four quarters and the Annual Performance Appraisal Report i.e. grading awarded by the Controlling Officer to the concerned officer for the last five years. The comments of the Controlling Officer on the Quarterly Self Appraisal Reports are furnished and returned to the concerned officer appraising himself. It is expected that based on the fairness of the system, the grading awarded by the Controlling Officer should correlate and correspond with the comments furnished in the Quarterly Self Appraisal Report.
If a candidate by virtue of his/ her seniority is due for promotion but did not merit it owing to unsatisfactory performance during the year and subsequently attained low grading, the views and comments of the Controlling Officer in his/her Quarterly Self Appraisal Report should have been highlighted accordingly so that the concerned officer is bound to improve his/her performance for consideration of promotion in the near future.
Sadly this has not been happening in MeSEB/MeECL due to the corruption/malpractices of the past and present authorities. It has been observed that very junior officers have managed to supersede numerous officers by virtue of their ability to control their Controlling Officer through various gimmicks in spite of their inability to discharge their duties. They are immature, lack fundamental working procedure and have no work ethics. One thing is for sure; they have made sycophancy into a fine art, thereby managing to come out with outstanding grades and are at present at the helm of affairs although rudderless and regretfully undeserving. It is disheartening to see some senior officers who are sincere, experienced and dedicated, being constantly humiliated and deprived of promotion even towards the end of their careers. One cannot but consider the plight of the other junior officers who are struggling in various wings in order to succeed in their career.
Will the Government please take note of this malfeasance?
Yours etc.,
Ferdinand Nongbsap
Shillong-8