In a bid to reduce problem of electricity consumers, Punjab Government has set up an Interactive Voice Response System (IVRS) — a dedicated helpline where a consumer could register his complaint by dialing specified telephone numbers.
The numbers are 2218095 and 2218096, to be dialed with code 0172, stated a spokesperson of the Punjab State Power Corporation limited (PSPCl). The IVRS system has been installed at Patiala.
“In case, any electricity consumer in Punjab has a complaint unattended for more than 24 hours regarding power supply, he could register his complaint on this IVRS system and a pre-recorded voice would guide the caller to register the complaint” he added.
He added that in case your complaint remains unattended for seven days, complainant then could contact Chief administration and IR could be contacted at PSPCl’s head office at Patiala on telephone no 0172-2216424 or personally. The spokesman added that besides IVRS system, Online Grievances Redressal Management System (GRMS) has also activated.
“The consumers could also register their complaints online over this GRMS system, which could be accessed on PSPCl website www.pspcl.in,” he added.
1.21 lakh plastic crates for farmers on 50% subsidy
Punjab Horticulture Department has finalised a scheme to distribute 1.21 lakh plastic crates, helpful in marketing of flowers, fruits, and vegetables, to the farmers to encourage them towards diversification in agriculture sector. The plastic crates would be given to farmers at Rs 123 per crate against actual price of Rs 246 per crate, said Horticulture Department director Dr lajvinder Singh Brar. He said: “The crates are being distributed to the farmers to provide better opportunities in the field of marketing of fruits, flowers, and vegetables.” “Plastic crates are very useful in maintaining quality of fruits, vegetables and flowers and there is no wastage and the farmers get good price in reward by proper presentation and marketing,” he added. Director Horticulture said that plastic crates have been sent to the district and block offices, for distribution to the farmers, as per the area covered under horticulture farming. He told that department has strictly instructed the officers that crates should be distributed only to farmers.
Market fee exemption on fruit, vegetable export
As part of its plans to encourage farmers to diversify to other crops, Punjab Government on Thursday stated that it has decided to exempt two per cent market fee on fruits and vegetables meant for exports. A decision taken by the CM Parkash Singh Badal in a bid to give major fillip to exports of fruits and vegetables from the Stateis approval of the exemption of market fee by amending rule 30(10) and Form K-3 of ‘The Punjab Agricultural Produce Markets (General) Rules, 1962'.