Tale of two cities.

My son is in Singapore. Every year we make one trip to spend time with them & our grand daughter.
During every visit I have been higly impressed by the way the civic authorities go about their work to provide  citizens with civic amenities yo make citizen's life as comfortable and smooth as possible.
The moment I return to Nagpur, a city I loved when I had decided to settle here after retirement, I am stuck by the utter chaotic state of civic amenities which rather than make the life of ctiezens comfortable make it a nightmare.
The garbage, the potholes thuorgh out the city interspread with an apology of what are called "road". Blatent violations of treaffic rules. All looked at with total apathy and unconcern by the auhotirtes who are supposed to maintain them and supposed to ensure that traffic rules are followed.
Those supporting these worthies will scream about shortage/ derth or lack of funds available to civic authoritoes. 

I beg to differ. I would like to make it absolutely clear "it is not a question of money, it is matter of, work culture, Attitude, Motivation, pride in the job they do. Most importantly of ''chalta hai' attitude". 

  

   

Trip to Shillong.

Trip to Shillong.

Whenever we were with Ajit and talked about going on a full family trip or just Ajeet and us, Shillong did come up few of times.

During their last visit to Nagpur trip to Shillong had again come up.

Few days after their return to Delhi, Jayati sent us mail on 24  sept 19,  informing us "Shillong booking done" and

"So plan to be here by march 9 latest"

Along with the mail she had forwarded mail from The Heritage Club - Tripura Castle. As per that our reservations were as below.

Check-in : 10th March 2020

Check-out : 15th March 2020

No Of Room  : 2 Rooms

No Of Night : 5 Nights

So we would be back in Delhi on 16 mar 20.

We had to be in Delhi on 4 Apr for Leela birthday. Rather than just sticking around in Delhi we decided to visit Nainital and Corbett park. After lot of discussions things were finalised.

Booked a trip with Kesari for for Nainital and Corbett Park from 21 - 26 Mar 20.

Booked Nagpur - Delhi - Nagpur tickets on 22 Oct 20.

So it was a trip planned long time back.

So we arrived in Delhi on 9 March 20.

Indifferent and 'could not careless" attitude of MSEDCL

Indifferent and 'could not careless" attitude of MSEDCL.

I had published this blog on 21 Feb 20.

As is my habit I had also sent paraphrased version to Editor Citi Mail to be published in city mail.

I was a bit disappointed to see that it never saw the light of the day, as usually happens with my letters to editor. Most probably because I call a spade a spade and do not use polite, diplomatic and tactful language  At times, depending on my sensitivity to the topic my language borders in being rude.

Vary pleasantly surprised to receive mail from Senior Reporter The Hitavada. ( not giving the name without asking his permission to do so). He had asked me to send my electrical bills. I did the needful. Not only sent him bills for Dec 19 but for Jan 20 as well as for Nov 19.   

Very gratified and happy to see very prominently published article highlighting my problem with MSEDCL, in today's City Line edition of The Hitavada.

In one stroke the article has not only solved my problem but hopefully of all other consumers who have installed rooftop Solar equipment.

 I use the word hopefully only because I will not put it beyond MSEDCL officials only to correct my bill and leave others in the lurch !!! 

Happy to report that as a result the artical, even before it was published, yesterday itself, MSEDCL had sent me following SMS 

" Dear consumer, your Tariff Change application 24944619 for consumer no. 410013572210 is approved. It will effect from next billing cycle."

Waiting for the next billing cycle now !!

The Hitavada, the news paper has always highlighting and publishing articles of public interest.

 As a result I have 

The published article given below  

Indifferent and could not careless attitude of MSEDCL.

Indifferent and could not careless attitude of Maharashtrs State Electricity Distrubution Company Ltd. (MSEDCL).

Recent bills Charged TREE TIMES the correct charges. I rang up representative of the firm, they have

 commitment to give after sales service. He accompanied me to Trimurti Nagar Sub Division of MSEDCL.

There were 4-5 other people in the same boat having been slapped with demand charges of Rs 320/-.Staff at Trimurti Nagar was quite helpful. They informed us that Correct tariff code for our single phase residential connection is " 90 LT I Res. 1". In this case higher demand charges have been levied due to entry of wrong tariff code of "92 LT-I A" which is the code for 3 phase connection.They projected our case to higher level. My complaint was acknowledged as " Tariff Change application no 24944619 on 23 Jan" . Till date there is no response.To add insult to injury in the bill for January the same thing happened. I made on line complaint which was acknowledged as "request ID 00000 14814849"

I do not understand why should a COMPLAINT be acknowledged as REQUEST.When contacted, firm representative informed me that hundreds of customers of all the firms installing roof top solar panels are facing the same problem. They have repeatedly approached various divisional offices. Only reply they have received is that " The do not know how or why this has happened. It was done by IT dept and they are helpless and cannot help.

As informed to me by my rep, When contacted Mr. Kundan T Bhise, Executive Engineer Congress Nagar division office, replied that "he has no idea. It has been done by IT dept and he cannot help" etc.I fail to Understand why an Executive Engineer cannot take up the matter with IT department. As if IT Dept is an alien entity beyond communication.

It reflects nothing else but totally indifferent and “Could not care less” attitude.

Will somebody in MSEDCL please pay heed to plight of hapless customers.

Three bills connercted with this given below.

Indifferent and could not careless attitude of MSEDCL.

Indifferent and could not careless attitude of Maharashtrs State Electricity Distrubution Company Ltd. (MSEDCL).

Indifferent and "could not careless" attitude of Maharashtrs State  Electricity Distrubution Company Ltd. (MSEDCL).

REE TIMES the correct charges. I rang up representative of the firm, they have commitment to give after sales service. He accompanied me to Trimurti Nagar Sub Division of MSEDCL.
There were 4-5 other people in the same boat having been slapped with demand charges of Rs 320/-.
Staff at Trimurti Nagar was quite helpful. They informed us that Correct tariff code for our single phase residential connection is " 90 LT I Res. 1". In this case higher demand charges have been levied due to entry of wrong tariff code of "92 LT-I A" which is the code for 3 phase connection.
They projected our case to higher level. My complaint was acknowledged as " Tariff Change application no 24944619 on 23 Jan" . Till date there is no response.
To add insult to injury in the bill for January the same thing happened. I made on line complaint which was acknowledged as "request ID 00000 14814849"
I do not understand why should a COMPLAINT be acknowledged as REQUEST.
When contacted, firm representative informed me that hundreds of customers of all the firms installing roof top solar panels are facing the same problem. They have repeatedly approached various divisional offices. Only reply they have received is that " The do not know how or why this has happened. It was done by IT dept and they are helpless and cannot help.
As informed to me by my rep, When contacted Mr. Kundan T Bhise, Executive Engineer Congress Nagar division office, replied that "he has no idea. It has been done by IT dept and he cannot help" etc.
I fail to Understand why an Executive Engineer cannot take up the matter with IT department. As if IT Dept is
an alien entity beyond communication.
It reflects nothing else but totally indifferent and “Could not care less” attitude.
Will somebody in MSEDCL please pay heed to plight of hapless customers.

Three bills connercted with this given below.