After the Gandhinagar Citizens Forum demanded the State Government to scrap its pact with Tata Power for poor services, former president of Ganjam Bar Association Bhagaban Sahu repeated the same demand over a meter scam by TPCODL.
It is alleged that Tata Power is reportedly looting huge amount from the consumers by installing energy meters at a price nearly double the market price. Sahu strongly demanded to institute a probe into the matter.
Even when a consumer wants to change an old meter with a new one bought by him, the Tata Power forcefully takes that away stating that the same is required by office.
According to information available, a consumer has the option either to buy a new meter from the market according to his own choice and cost, and ask the Tata Power to fix it on payment of the prescribed fee, or TPCODL can instal its own meter and can realise the cost of the meter from the consumer in 60 installments along with the monthly energy bill.
Sources said the Tata Power invariably insists the consumer to take energy meter at the time of taking a new connection, the cost of which varies from Rs 1,100 to Rs 1,300 in the local market as per the MRP written on the body of the meter.
But, Tata Power reportedly collects Rs 40 in the monthly electric bill per consumer per month towards the cost of meter for a single phase reportedly in sixty installments which comes to Rs 2,400 meaning taking double the amount from the consumers. In this way, the TPCODL is virtually looting lakhs of rupees from the consumers in the name of supplying meter, charged Sahu.