Guwahati: Appreciating the State government in Dispur for the recent actions to improve the power sector scenario in Assam, a forum of
graduate engineers urges the chief minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma to take a comprehensive initiative so that the government-run power
companies can perform efficiently. Lauding CM Sarma’s decision to reorganize the managements of Assam
Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL), Assam Power Generation Corporation Ltd (APGCL) and Assam Electricity Grid
Corporation Ltd (AEGCL), All Assam Engineer’s Association (AAEA) also expresses hope that the new authorities would function responsibly.
Mentionable is that Sarma, in presence of State power minister Bimal Bora, State chief secretary Jishnu Baruah, top officials of three
government sponsored power companies with other dignitaries, recently emphasized on designing modalities to increase the revenue generations
along with quality services to the consumers. Expressing his concern over revenue losses, Sarma asked the power
companies to be innovative and look for ways to increase the profits. He cited about some fraudulent consumers adopting dubious methods
to reduce their electricity bills and many avoiding due payments, which has caused a huge loss. He directed the power companies to
design modalities and plug the loopholes. The AAEA agrees that the definition of fraudulent consumers should
not be limited to the house-hold consumers alone as many big industry owners are suspected to be involved with such evil practices.
Moreover, a sustained cooperation from many electricity officials/workers to those high profile consumers cannot be ruled out,
claimed the forum insisting on necessary vigilances against such anomalies. “Assam government should consider enhancing the production of
electricity to meet the peak-hour demand (nearly 2000 mega watt) of consumers. It should also rigorously explore newer fields of renewable
and clean technology like solar and wind power,” observed an AAEA statement adding that the transmission and distribution losses must be
minimized. The government (in consultation with the Centre) may think of
endorsing the energy efficient DC (direct current) electricity distribution system, stated the forum adding that it becomes now very
popular in European countries which overlooks the century old AC (alternating current) technologies primarily for the matter of energy
efficiency. “Most of our home appliances like computers, televisions, mobile
phones, music systems, battery operated baby toys, inverters, LED bulbs, electric vehicles, etc run on DC and hence each of these items
needs an AC-DC electricity converter in it for working,” said the statement signed by AAEA president Er Kailash Sarma, working president
Er Nava J Thakuria and secretary Er Inamul Hye. Furthermore, the solar energy is generated as DC power only, where the
wind power can be produced in both AC or DC modes, pointed out the statement, endorsed by Er Achinta Bezbarua, Er Vavani Sarma, Er
Bhaskar J Barua, Er Alok Das, Er Rajiv Sarma and Er NK Haloi, adding that all motor run appliances like washing machines, fans,
refrigerators, vacuum cleaners, mixer-grinders, chimneys, dish washers becomes operational with a DC source of prescribed vaults.
Engineer’s forum bats for Assam power reforms
