Fill up vacant Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission post, demand civic activists
They said in the letter that as per provisions of the Electricity Act, 2003, the state government should have started a process to appoint a new member of the Merc six months prior to SB Kulkarni’s retirement.
Civic activists have demanded the state government fill at the earliest a post of member of the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (Merc), lying vacant for a year, as the vacancy is affecting the regulatory body.
Shantanu Dixit of non-governmental organisation (NGO) Prayas, Vivek Velankar of Sajag Nagrik Manch (SNM) and Bhimsen Khedkar of Grahak Panchayat have sent a letter to chief minister, Prithviraj Chavan and deputy chief minister, Ajit Pawar in this regard.
They said in the letter that as per provisions of the Electricity Act, 2003, the state government should have started a process to appoint a new member of the Merc six months prior to SB Kulkarni’s retirement in September 2010.
As the post is lying vacant, many decisions are getting delayed including amendments in standard operating procedures. There is a major public hearing scheduled by the commission on the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) petition for increase in tariff. In this situation, the Merc would definitely feel the pressure due to the vacancy.
The Merc consists of a chairman and two members. It is a quasi-judicial authority with regulatory functions and its job is to determine the power tariff and decide on grievances as well as disputes regarding the power sector. VP Raja is the chairman and Vijay Sonavane a member.
The letter stated: “We urge you to honour the Act provisions on appointment of member on commission and take urgent steps for the appointment of member.”