the goan I network
MAPUSA
There was no long queue of consumers waiting to pay their bills at the Mapusa electricity department on Tuesday, but confusion and doubt persisted even as Thane Janata Sahakari Bank (TJSB) engaged to receive power bill payment failed to activate agents at various collection centres in Bardez.
On the instruction of the electricity department, all cooperative banks and credit societies stopped accepting power bill payments from February 1 putting several consumers into inconvenience.
“We received instruction to stop accepting electricity bills from February 1 so we stopped. But we continue to accept water bills,” said Ratnapal Salkar, Vice Chairman of Shree Kalika Urban Coop Credit Society, Mapusa.
He said the society was not making much on the commission offered by the electricity department for the service but were more concerned about providing service to the public.
“We do not know why the government suddenly stopped us from offering the service without putting a proper system in place,” Salkar opined.
On Monday, a long queue of consumers awaiting their turn to pay the bill caught the Mapusa electricity department completely off guard.
“We have opened two more counters on the first floor where people can make their payment. Besides that we have the All Time Payment Machine (ATPM) facility on the ground floor of the department where people can directly deposit cash or cheques,” said Pradip Narvekar, Executive Engineer, Mapusa.
The additional counters may have eased the queues to an extent but it has created problems for the staff in the already cramped premises.
The executive engineer further informed that the ATPM facility was available to the public for 24 hours and even on Saturday and Sundays.
“Since the ATPM is installed in the complaint section of the department where our staff is available round the clock, people can come at any time and make payment,” he said.
The power department’s Public Relation Officer, Executive Engineer, C H Rajgopalan attributed the long queue of people around the State to “teething problems”.
“We have told the TJSB to open more counters. The bank will open such counters in all villages across the State,” Rajgopalan said.
DEPT’S ATPM FACILITY: ROADBLOCKS
No security guard available at the All Time Payment Machine (ATPM) facility on the ground floor of the Mapusa electricity department. However, the department has written to the government asking for the same
Most people who approached the machine were clueless on its functioning needing the presence of a staff member to guide them
The slot to insert coins on the machine has been covered with tape, as it has stopped functioning for quite some time
A consumer who walked in with new Rs 100 notes had to return back as the machine software was yet to be calibrated to accept those notes
When this reporter visited the room housing the ATPM, the staff on duty said that the machine is shut at 4.30 pm contradicting the statement made by Mapusa EE Pradip Narvekar that the ATPM facility was available to the public for 24 hours and even on Saturday and Sundays
