Mumbaikars get only one chance to raise their concerns over rising electricity bills, and that too was cut short by the quasi-judicial body presiding over it. On Wednesday, the first public hearing against Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST), which was held at the World Trade Centre and organised by the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission barely lasted 25 minutes.
Usually, a public hearing is attended by several people and goes on for two to three hours. On Wednesday, the MERC started the public hearing at 10 am, which was over by 10.25 am; hardly five people got to raise their concerns. The three-member commission barely gave any time to talk or make presentations.
"I raised my concerns about overcharging and lack of audited accounts. The commission told me they have taken cognizance of my grievances and that I need not raise discuss similar issues in the forthcoming hearings," said Rakshpal Abrol, power activist, who attended the hearing.
Another attendee, who is a resident of Shivaji Park, said the commission did not let people speak and was only bothered about the submission of written documents. "We were told not to repeat points that have already been mentioned in the written submissions. This does not seem like a public hearing. Moreover, the BEST did not even speak on the queries raised by us," said Ashok Pendse, a power expert.
At the end of the hearing, the power distributors get an opportunity to defend themselves against the charges levelled. "The commission barely gave any time to talk. They behaved as if they have little interest in what we have to say," said Kamlakar Shenoy, another activist who made a presentation.
Meanwhile, BEST officials said that they gave written submissions to the MERC. Many are worried that in the next three days, they will face the same wrath when Rinfra, Tata Power and MSEDCL will take over. In the past, huge auditoriums were booked for such hearings, with each getting around 10-15 minutes to speak.
