Latest news with #BiswajitBasu
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
Tripura power corp to go ahead with smart meter installation
Agartala: Tripura State Electricity Corporation Ltd (TSECL) has confirmed its decision to proceed with the installation of smart/prepaid electricity meters for domestic consumers. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now This decision has been met with strong opposition from political parties, civil society organisations, and consumer groups across the state. Protesters have criticised BJP's stance on smart meters, pointing out the party's contradictory position in West Bengal, where it opposed the installation of smart meters. Following protests over allegedly inflated electricity bills, the West Bengal govt halted the installation of smart meters for domestic consumers. "The BJP's actions in Tripura contradict their stance in West Bengal," said Jitendra Chaudhury, leader of the opposition. "The West Bengal govt recognised the issues and stopped the installation work," he added. Despite the backlash, TSECL managing director Biswajit Basu defended the decision, stating that the allegations against smart meters are unfounded and that any issues are likely due to human error or local problems. In a related development, TSECL has issued a showcause notice to TDS Management Consultants Pvt. Ltd, a Punjab-based billing agency, after uncovering significant irregularities in Tripura's energy meter billing system. An investigation led by Tripura power minister Ratan Lal Nath revealed large-scale underbilling and potential corruption in Khowai district. The investigation found that meter readers submitted average billing data despite having fully functional meters, leading to financial losses for TSECL. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Basu emphasised the benefits of smart meters, stating, "Smart meters will reduce TSECL's loss burden, improve consumer compliance, and enhance service quality. We've launched a campaign to educate consumers on the advantages of smart meters. The technology is reliable, similar to UPI transactions, which have not reported discrepancies." As the controversy continues, TSECL remains firm in its commitment to modernizing the state's electricity infrastructure.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Tripura electricity corpn looks for ways to recover 450cr dues
Agartala: Amid public outrage against the decision to install smart meters for electricity consumers, the Tripura State Electricity Corporation Limited (TSECL) has been looking for options to recover the outstanding billed amount of Rs 450 crore from consumers. TSECL managing director Biswajit Basu said around five lakh consumers have not paid the bill for past few months, adding the financial burden on the corporation. Claiming a slight improvement in the recovery, Basu said regular payers have increased from 39% to 49% over a year. To modernise billing and improve efficiency, TSECL is rolling out free-of-cost smart meters in a phased manner, with 88,000 installed, primarily in govt establishments, considering its measurement accuracy. It's trying to modernise the power sector with an Rs 603 crore push and set a goal to install six lakh smart meters across the state by March 2027. The initiative is being implemented under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme of the Centre. These smart meters are being installed on the premises of electricity consumers across Tripura. According to Basu, the smart metering project is part of a larger effort to upgrade the state's power infrastructure through digital technology. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Upto 15% Discount for Salaried Individuals ICICI Pru Life Insurance Plan Get Quote Undo Meanwhile, the Tripura Electricity Consumers Association opposed the smart meter installation initiative and demanded to roll back the decision. "Smart meters are a tool to smartly robbing electricity users. TSECL is misleading people, intimidating them, and forcing them to do so," they said.
Hindustan Times
7 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Tripura aims to install 6 lakh smart meters by March 2027: Official
Agartala, Tripura State Electricity Corporation Ltd has set a target to install smart meters across the state by March 2027, an official said on Friday. Tripura aims to install 6 lakh smart meters by March 2027: Official Out of an estimated 6 lakh smart meters, 88,748 have already been installed in the state so far, the official added. "The TSECL in alignment with the Centre's Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme and under Asian Development Bank funded projects, has taken significant strides in modernising the state's power infrastructure through the installation of smart meters", state's power utility managing director Biswajit Basu said during a press conference. He said smart meters are equipped with communication technology that enables automated and remote reading of energy consumption. "It provides real-time usage data to both consumers and TSECL, eliminating the need for manual meter reading. Smart meters support both postpaid and prepaid billing, usage tracking through mobile apps, and quick fault detection for early resolution," he added. Basu noted that TSECL has already begun installing smart meters at the residences and government quarters of ministers, MLAs, and senior bureaucrats. So far, 88,748 smart meters have been installed against a total target of around 6 lakh. The project is expected to be completed by March 2027, with an estimated cost of ₹603 crore, he added. This initiative underscores the corporation's commitment to driving smart grid transformation from the top and building public trust in the smart meter programme, Basu said. "One of the key advantages is real-time energy monitoring, which allows consumers to continuously track their electricity usage through a mobile app, while also sending data to the control room for analysis and management", he added. Basu said smart meters ensure automated and wireless data transmission, typically via cellular or Wi-Fi networks, enabling remote monitoring and seamless billing. "This leads to improved billing accuracy, as real-time data eliminates human errors and ensures consumers are charged precisely for their consumption", he said. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Time of India
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Litigants in pending case can't take to streets: HC
Kolkata: Litigants in a matter pending before court could not simultaneously take to the streets, Calcutta High Court 's Chief Justice T S Sivagnanam said on Monday following a ruckus in front of lawyers' chambers on Friday afternoon. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The protest was staged by some work education and physical education candidates in the 2016 SSC panel in relation to a case pending before Justice Biswajit Basu's bench. Members of the bar told the division bench of the CJ and Justice Chaitali Chatterjee (Das): "We are scared. This took place in the vicinity of Calcutta HC, which comes under Section 144. What were police doing?" The HC directed two petitioners, seeking the court's intervention into the ruckus in front of lawyers' chambers at 6, Old Post Office Street, to serve notice on the advocate-general office and the secretary of the three wings of the bar and place the petitions before the bench for orders. Lawyers said some persons—some party to a case pending adjudication in the court of Justice Biswajit Basu—caused a ruckus over four hours. They reportedly stamped on Justice Basu's photos and abused lawyers. "It is an onslaught on the independence of the judiciary. The bench and the bar are being targeted," a lawyer said. Lawyers claimed cops on the HC premises stood as "mute spectators". The CJ said about 7.15 pm on Friday, lawyer Bikram Banerjee narrated the incident at the chambers of the officer on special duty. "The AG went with police and got the place cleared. He told me at 8.15 pm," he said.
