Unless we inculcate the good habit of paying tax in time and regularly we will continue to face frequent power break down and imposition of load shedding. Someone, who came just recently from Mizoram talked of power supply in that state. But he did not attempt to ask the Mizo people whether they paid tax regularly. When we went to Shillong some time back to attend a conference one word uttered by a pan dukan owner made us a good laughing. We were collecting items for the night. We were told by him no candle is sold. Power is regular so no one comes for buying candles. What has happened in Meghalaya now is different from what happened some time back. Chief Minister Mukul Sangma had declared of impending imposition of load shedding. Surely the people of that state might not have inculcated the good habit of paying tax. If tax is paid power is available. It is sold. After some time Mizoram too will land in the same precarious condition of not getting power supply regularly. Whatever Manipuris are facing is our own creation. Despite warning against taking up heavy fuel power project in Manipur, the men at the helms of affairs went ahead with the foolish task of taking up the useless project. Now fuel is not available. It has to be brought from Bongaigaon. Fuel is costly. Will we pay tax after we have used the electricity generated by the project? Rs 100 core project will be buried any time. It is really amazing that the power department, despite knowing the fact that it does not have electricity for illuminating the main road passing through the state capital, indulges in electric posts erection spree. These are wastage of money. The electric posts standing at Uripok can be uprooted and used in construction of Government officees or schools. Revenue needs to be earned to ensure regular power supply. Amazingly Power Department has not sent meter readers to the houses of the consumers. If meter readers refuse to do the job of meter reading who will come for clearing taxes. Those, who have inculcated the good habit of paying tax, are groaning with anger unable to complain. The Government talks of outsourcing the task of doing meter reading and money collection to the voluntary organisations. That is a good idea. But there is always the difference between words uttered and works done. The state Government will have lots of money if all these Government departments clear tax in time. Nevertheless the state Government is cautioned against involvement of private partners in the generation and subsequent distribution of power supply.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/poor-power-supply/
