Though uniformity in payment of power tariff bills is a decades old practice but barely three years after the introduction of digital power tariff payment system the Kashmir Development Corporation Ltd (KPDCL) has now started phase wise introduction of the pre-paid power tariff digital payment system from some parts of South Srinagar in Kashmir Valley. Since only 57000 smart electricity meter users will most likely shift to pre-paid power tariff payment practice from July onwards this year, the KPDL’s main motive of the payment of power tariffs in time would be mostly achieved through pre-paid digital payment system only in few parts of South Srinagar but not in entire Kashmir Valley. Since the trend of paying power tariffs in time is intensifying for the last several years in Jammu & Kashmir, the KPDCL’s argument that delays in power tariff bills by consumers has prompted Union Power Ministry to approve launch of pre-paid power tariff system in tiny parts of South Srinagar doesn’t find any takers in Kashmir. Moreover comparing mobile recharge system for hassle free cellular services with the pre-paid power tariff payment system for hassle free power supply also makes no sense as use of mobile phones is an avoidable compulsion but hassle free power supply is an unavoidable compulsion for both the Government and as well as the consumer.
“When the main motive of payment of power tariffs in time would be achieved only in some tiny part of South Srinagar, the collection of power tariffs by the KPDCL won’t be fast paced beyond South Srinagar in Kashmir. Administrative wisdom demands that pre-paid power tariff payment system is put on hold till the smart meters are installed even in the remotest of the remote areas of both Kashmir Valley and as well as Jammu division. The pre-paid power tariff system could be atleast launched simultaneously in twin capital cities Srinagar and Jammu only after completion of the installation of smart meters in both the cities”.
It is an irrefutable fact that using a mobile phone or not using it won’t make much difference as too many people in a family of few or dozens can share a single phone for availing cellular facilities but disruptions in power supply will for all practical purposes put dozens to dozens of inconveniences in a family of few or dozen just in the twinkling of an eye when the light will go off and come again only after recharging the pre-paid electricity sim . What matters the most is the fact that when the main motive of payment of power tariffs in time would be achieved only in some tiny part of South Srinagar, the collection of power tariffs by the KPDCL won’t be fast paced beyond South Srinagar in Kashmir. Administrative wisdom demands that pre-paid power tariff payment system is put on hold till the smart meters are installed even in the remotest of the remote areas of both Kashmir Valley and as well as Jammu division. The pre-paid power tariff system could be at least launched simultaneously in twin capital cities Srinagar and Jammu only after completion of the installation of smart meters in both the cities.
