[Resolved]  BBMP, Bangalore — Untidy Road

Refund for a power cut? Yes, it’s true

Did you know that BESCOM's power cuts are subject to scrutiny by the state's electricity regulator and the rules allow for penalties to be paid to consumers? Read on.
By Supriya Khandekar
21 Nov 2008, Citizen Matters
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Power cuts are again the talk of the town since Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (BESCOM) declared a minimum two hour cut in all the residential areas in the city. “Is it really only two hours?” is what my colleague Gayathri S asks me. She gets a power cut of six to eight hours every day since the declaration of power cut was done by BESCOM.

My colleague lives in Venkatapura, Koramangala. She complains o[censored]ntimely power cut of more than six hours a day disturbing routines. When we checked, we found that she is not the only one suffering from this kind of power cuts. Residents of Anjananagar, Vidyaranyapura, Green Park Layout, ISRO Layout, Yelahanka, Hebbal, RT Nagar, Siddapura, Puttenahalli and Ramamurthynagar and more are also affected by long hours of irregular power cuts.

But all o[censored]s facing power cuts tend to rant about the inconveniences and stop there. This is because we do not know that in such cases we are entitled to get a refund of Rs.50 from BESCOM, according to the code set by the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC).

The KERC is the Karnataka's electricity regulator and monitors electricity supply companies throughout the state, including BESCOM. KERC makes certain guidelines, rules and codes which are mandatory to be followed by the companies. One of the clauses of the Grid Code of KERC, clause number 4.6.3(i), mentions that power cut of more than two hours in any part may be termed as a “Distribution System Failure” and is entitled to get a refund of Rs.50 from BESCOM.
Grid Code of KERC
Grid Code of KERC
Pic: Grid Code of KERC

At the same time, the KERC has a table declaring the “Standards of Performance and Amount to be Paid for Default in each case.” This table clearly mentions that a refund of Rs.50 needs to be given for the following conditions also:

* Normal fuse off if not repaired within six hours
* Line break downs not fixed within six hours (or 10 hours is the poles are broken down)
* Voltage variations not attended within seven days

There are many more such conditions. Everyone can find at least one suiting his trouble.

One citizen who decided to pursue BESCOM for the statutory refund money is C H Ram, an RTI user from Koramangala. His area, ST Bed Layout saw a power cut of more than 20 hours on 29th April this year. Pained by the trouble, he filled an application with the Additional South Division, BESCOM in the month of May. The PIO for that office is B Krishnappa. Ram did not get a reply.

“Not getting the response made me file an RTI application against asking for the report of action taken on my earlier application, ” explains Ram. He filed the RTI application on 10th July. His RTI application was also not answered.

Ram then appealed to the Karnataka Information Commission. Ram is now waiting for the hearing scheduled for 1st December. “I hope at least there BESCOM reacts, ” adds Ram.

Many of you may wonder why we should bother so much for a mere amount of Rs.50 per consumer. You may also wonder why Ram should fight so much over BESCOM’s silence on the matter.

But there lies the key: Rs.50 per person in a locality where thousands of homes are hit by outages and across several localities could very quickly add up to a large refund amount – crores of rupees -- for BESCOM to shell out. If this is enforced, it could make BESCOM rethink or manage its affairs better.

Members of the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission could not be reached for comment, despite repeated attempts.

Citizen Matters will track this story, and in the meantime, consumers, start marking the hours for which power is cut in your homes. ⊕

Sir,
The road which leads to Shantinekatan school in Bilekahalli is so pathic with the roads been dug up both sides with a two way traffic, with school buses jammed etc. Also the road leading to the school is a Garbage dump which is not cleared, it is so very dirty and unhigenic for the children and residents who have to walk through the gabbage to get to school.

May I request that action is taken on clearing the garbage dump from the school area.

Thank You

Pooja Joshi

Dear Sir,

SUB: Blockage of Corporation Sanitary Pipe Lines
[protected][protected][protected][protected]


Sub: Demand of bribe by BBMP employees.

I am the owner of the premises No.8, 5th. Cross, Vannerpet layout Bangalore 560047.

2. Consequent to asphalting of the sanitation chambers at different points in the locality, the sanitary pipe lines are not maintained regularly and frequently getting blocked leading to nuisance to the residents. I registered my complaint on 15.7.2010 with the service centre at Austin Town. Thereupon, some persons employed as santitation workers by the BBMP visited my house on 20.7.2010 and demanded Rs.1000/- to do the work. My husband spoke to one certain Venkatesh over the phone and requested receipt. Mr.Venkatesh promptly replied that no receipt will be given and justified that it is the amount usually collected by the workers for such work. Evidently, it is the bribe what the workers demanded. Therefore my husband refused to pay the bribe. This angered Mr.Venkatesh and the entire group walked off along with him without providing the service.

Please state what action you would like to initiate in this regard.

Thanking you,

Dr. (Mrs.) J.L.Sheela
[protected]

[protected]

Complaint since[protected]

To

Joint Commissioner
BBMP Rajarajeswarinagar
Zone Bangalore

Sir,

Sub : Request for Road
We are residing at SriMookambika Residency 5th Main Pipelineroad Bikasipura, Prashanthinagar Extension Banaglore- 560 078 We have been facing lot of difficulties due to lack of proper passage from our building to 5th main road, only connecting road to ISRO layout centre.Thus we are deprived of all amenities.We all have been paying BBMP taxes promptly. But We are not getting n return our due from BBMP. Inspite of our request on[protected] and subsequent letter dated[protected], which was handedover to your BBMPofficer Subramanyapura.We are shocked to note that till now BBMP has not responded. We are very much upset for this.The present condition of
road is aweful and dangerous, and has become prone to accidents.We are living in despair.
We are Hopeful that with your kind intervention only our road problem will get solved.
Please do needful, Sir.

Thanking You

With Regards
C.Krishnamraju
for Sri Mookambika Residency Flat Owners
[protected]
[protected]

Copy To:
Addl. Commissioner BBMP South Bangalore

hello sir can u tell all BBMP workers to do work properly,
In my ward counselor he is helping for is sisters, By making there sisters toilet chambers in road we already told him to but he didn't done so please can you tell the counselors to make good work they still making road without demolition of that toilet chamber and also some construction made in road please help the peoples...
thank you

Dear Sir,

Sub: Complaint is regarding the Bus driver. he is a muslim guy who is in first shift at present and the bus no is KA50 F197. These bleady people dont even give stops in the bus stop which is very much irritating and they behave indecent. We pay so much money for tickets and these hell people are not stopping in bus stops rather giving stops in signals and they go more forward and stop after the bus stop which is too ridiculous. Let me know if your taking an action or I will go to the higher authority having this complaint. Kindly ask these people to be prompt. Hoping you will take serious action on the same. Thanks

Hi,

I stay in Shanti Layout 4th Cross of Rammurthynagar, Bangalore. There are innumerable street dogs in this area. They dirty the place thus making it unhygenic and disease prone. They bark, fight and create havoc every night thus depriving us of sleep and peace.

Please help us out with this dog menace.

Thanks,
Shilpa,
Shanti Layout, 4th Cross,
Rammurthynagar,
Bangalore

To

The Commissioner of BBMP
Bangalore

Sir,

Sub: Provision of Rain water harvesting pits

In down area, which are creates problemes in rainy season, providing of Rain water harvesting pits are usefull and also helps to develop under ground water table's level, ...Etc pls.

Street Dogs — Street Dog Menace

We are living in Sathalwar Street in Mugappair West, Chennai. We are facing a lot of problems due to presence of Stray dogs in our street. Yesterday one of them bit my husband. Hence I request the municipality to solve this problem at the earliest. (Whenever the dog vans come the dogs hide themselves and due to which this problem is unresolved for a longer time)

To

The Commissioner BBMP
Bangalore.

I am staying in 5th croos;a aneplaya, bangalore-30 nera ganesha temple last 7month back roads r repred but stil not finshd please take some action

my e.mail.id;[protected]@hotmail.com
mob.no.[protected]
[protected]

Dear Sir,

I have booked new apartment on 5th floor situated in chinnappanhalli, Marathalli named vasanth vihar. This building is constructed upto ground + 5th floor. So, i wanted to know, is 5th floor allowed in BBMP area? Buider is saying that G+4 is already approved by BBMP and they have applied for G+5 approval.
Once they will get G+5 approval, should I go for this deal. I am thinking whether I will face any legal problem in future. Please help me ASAP.

With best Regards,
Nitu

road condition in austin town — road condition

dear sir,
this is sunitha student of st ' joseph's college residence of old cement line austin town
i want to inform you that the government has put the new cement road after a long long year i was so happy but now the residence have destroyed by digging the holes so i kindly request you to put new road and make some rules so that they wil not do it again
this is my kind request to you
i will be happy if you do that so
i want my environment to be clean

The Maruti Nagar stretch through BTM layout from Koramangala is a bad and narrow road with chaotic traffic on both sides. And to add to this, people lack the civic sense and park their vehicles making the road narrower. Today there was a truck that was parked, which blocked the road completely and while trying to avoid it, it damaged my car. Are these the conditions that a citizen gets for paying his taxes on time? Why can't we have patrolling on such roads where people who park their cars have their cars towed away? Moreover, the road cleaners also leave their carts right in the middle of the road making it more difficult for vehicles to move. As much as we claim we are a great country and growing economy, the barbaric and primitive behavior of our people tells a different story. I know I am wasting my time raising this complaint, because I am not sure who is even going to listen and take action.

Dear Sir,

I am Manjunath Raykar, Retired Scientist, resident of House No 20, ward No. 74. at 8th main, 1st G-Cross, 4th Block, 3rd Stage Basaveswaranagar Bangalore. south of my house Garbage are thrown by Rajeeva Ghandhi slum dwellers. Earlier there was a point of garbage collection at the slum, During the concrete Road formation, People start throwing the garbage at the site and irrespective of complaining about this to our Corp-orator Mrs Padmavati Srinivasan. they are not bothered to look into this, when I approach, They call the contractor & tell, He accepts and go and finally nothing happence. This looks like a game between them. This is happening since few months. Either they send the garbage collectors inside the slum nor they identify a place in slum to keep the slum dwellers garbage.

We are not able to bear the smell & passers by also facing problem by this. This is health hazardous deed & Our Corp orator are not bothered about it.
I hope you give due attention & inform the concerned corporate to look into the problem.

Thanking you sir,

Regards
Manjunath Raykar

Dear sir,
To

The Commissioner BBMP
Bangalore


This is to inform you that approx one month back, drainage pipe and kaveri water pipe installation work along with road construction has started in 1st cross ext. muneshwara layout, kr puram, bangalore-560036, near SEA College/ayyappa nagar petrol pump, after one month also in front of our houses they have opened the main holes in the mid of the street and digged around 3ft width*4ft depth and it is like this only since last one month, all sewer tanks are open and bad smell is splatting around the area, i don't know some time workers come with some machines but there is no progress we see in work and we can't take our vehicles inside the our house main gate.
roads/streets are in poor stage in this area. i would like to ask you how much time will it take to complete this project and roads will become in bit good condition.
Could the authorities kindly instruct the concerned individuals to take corrective action and do the same. Thanks and regards AJEET

Due to no proper drainage System, the roads in 10th Main, 8th Cross Maruthinagar, Malleshpalya are flooded with Drain water. Drain water has been seeping inside the houses and Apartments aswell. If the situation continues, water-borne diseases would spread in the area.
Chaitanya School is also on the same road. Children are also facing the problem.