Get ready for a mesmerising display of lights depicting stunning structures and designs with illuminations enough to virtually blind people while giving people a sense that the capital Ranchi, although for a day, stands among the glitzy cities around the world. But there is dark reality behind the brightness that will be engulf the city for next ten days — most of the pandals are still running without legal electricity connection.
As per the rules laid by electricity department, it is mandatory for a puja organising committee to apply for a temporary connection for running electrical appliances and to light decorations. The temporary connection is treated as domestic connection and the tariff has been fixed at 1.5 times the normal rate of per unit consumption in household.
“We have made a request to them to apply for connections. All the details have been published in newspapers for their convenience,” said Superintending Engineer of Energy department Arvind Kumar.
However, despite notice issued by the department, meters are not visible at most of the pandals. As the lighting arrangements are nearly complete, the department is yet to verify how many meters have been installed since the notice was issued and ensure that theft of electricity is prevented during the festival.
“Usually someone from electricity department comes and takes note of all the details for installing a meter. They assess the requirement and load on the supply but none has come so far,” said Secretary of Durga Puja Committee, Kanke Road, Nakul Tirkey.
Meanwhile, hooking is the only source of electricity for the major portion of the lighting arrangements. Wires from all illuminated placards hooked to the overhead conductors openly defy the notice issued by electricity department and is also testimonial to the fact that requirements of electricity for pandals are only accounted for and the rest is plain theft of electricity. Notably, a big pandal usually takes anywhere between 5 and10 KV load.
“To the best of my knowledge most of them have applied for electricity connection. Still we will not tolerate theft of electricity and will talk to organising committees on this matter,” said member of Ranchi Mahanagar Duga Puja Samiti, Rajeev Ranjan Mishra.