Firstly
the local population should be notified in a suitable
manner either through local newspapers, if any
or by beat of drums, etc. that it is proposed
to disconnect the electric supply to street lights
on account of the failure of the Municipality/Gram
Panchayat to pay our bills. Thereafter a token
disconnection of supply should be eff ected for
2 or 3 days with the approval of the controlling
officer not bellow the rank of an Executive Engr.
under intimation to the Collector and to the Head
Office in the Commercial Section.
Inspite
of the token disconnection if the payment of outstanding
bills is not made by the local authority, the
supply to the street lights should be restored
under intimation to the Collector and Head Office.
At the same time a f urther notice should be given
to the Municipality/Gram Panchayat that the supply
was been temporarily reconnected with a request
that they are further allowed time of seven days
to pay up the outstanding amount with interest,
failing which the supply shall be definitely disconnected
on the expiry of seven clear days from the date
of this second notice, till such time the full
payment is made by them. Inspite of this notice
if the payment is still not made, the supply should
be disconnected on the expiry of 7 clear days
with the approval of the Divisional Executive
Engineer under intimation to the Collector and
the Head Office.
No
further representation from such defaulting local
authoritiesfor any concession should be entertained
thereafter.
In
this connection it may please be noted that it
is necessary to maintain cordial relations with
the local authorities and therefore the field
officers should in the first instance make personal
contracts with the P resident of the Municipality,
or the Sarpanch in the case of Gram Panchayat,
for expediting the payments of bills, before any
action regarding disconnection of supply is taken.
In
the case of the Municipalities, the field officers
should personally contact the Collector also and
request him to advise the Municipality to payup
the outstanding dues so as to avoid inconvenience
to the public resulting from the disconnection
of supply. However, much time, say more thanaweek,
should notbewasted from such consultations and
if suchefforts are notsuccessful in getting the
payment, the token disconnection should be carried
out. However, once the supply is reconnected on
our own after the token disconnection, it is very
essential that a further notice of not less than
seven clear days is again given to the local authority
before the supply is disconnected the second time.
This
supersedes all previous instructions on the subject.
