Monthly Archives: September 2017

How Kanpur’s IAS officer battled power theft, introduced digitisation of power

Business & Economy, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Leaders

Ritu Maheshwari’s UDAY initiative slashed the combined financial losses states to Rs. 40,295 crore in the year to March 31.

Mumbai:

An IAS at the Kanpur Electricity Supply Co. has been making headlines for halving the company’s losses by digitising power to prevent power theft.

The tale of Ritu Maheshwari, a graduate from the Punjab Engineering College, who steered away the losses of Kanpur Electricity Supply Co., is one of courage to change the system and of embracing technology to drive that change.

According to a report in Bloomberg, upon her appointment at the company in 2011, Maheshwari installed new meters across almost a third of the company’s customer base. The devices recorded the daily power consumption and exposed leaks in the distribution system, in real-time.

The company that was incurring a distribution loss of 30 per cent when she joined, currently records 15 per cent loss now. “I managed to change 160,000 meters of 500,000 amid protests from pilfering consumers that drastically brought down the city’s distribution losses, which were at 30 percent then,” she said in an interview with Bloomberg.

However, like in every other sphere of life, corruption and protection of interests of the power thieves, led to her transfer after 11 months.

In a country where power loss due to illegal tapping is rampant, Maheshwari’s efforts re-iterate the need for digitisation of power. The woman, whose story was filed in 2014 Bollywood movie ‘Katiyabaaz’, was recently leading Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s efforts to help out loss-incurring state power departments.

Maheshwari’s UDAY initiative slashed the combined financial losses of these states to Rs. 40,295 crore in the year to March 31 — about 22 per cent lower than the previous year, according to the power ministry.

This strategy has gained popularity among retailers like Tata Power Delhi Distribution Ltd , in Delhi and Mumbai, who found their losses minimizing.

It has led to the upgradation of power grids with hi-tech meters, transformers, automation and new wiring supplied by companies such as Schneider Electric SE, Landis+Gyr Group AG, and Nokia Oyj.

Currently, the government is contemplating investing about USD 50 billion in the power transmission and distribution industries in the next five years through 2019, according to former power minister Piyush Goyal.

Digitization of power so far covers only about 10 percent of the consumption side of electricity use in India, according to Schneider Electric. In states like Uttar Pradesh, where losses amount to 35 percent for distribution companies, 29 million rural households receive electricity without meters, while 11.2 million are left without power, according to government data.

India issued its first tender to buy 5 million smart meters in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana on August 1. “This is a pilot project where 4 million smart meters will go to Uttar Pradesh and the rest to Haryana,” said Saurabh Kumar, of Energy Efficiency Services Ltd, the agency handling the energy efficient programs on the government’s behalf.

“The next two years will be very crucial as several states need to move from poor metering to smart metering,” said Maheshwari who was heading that program till two weeks ago.

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Business & Economy / September 12th, 2017

Doordarshan’s ‘Once More’ to highlight poetic richness of Lucknow

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

Art and culture of Lucknow has earned a new patron in Lucknow Doordarshan.

After success of series on gallantry award winner soldiers, Doordarshan is ready with the series to boost art, poetry and literature with a reality show on city poetry named ‘Once More’.

Conceptualized by senior programme executive Atma Prakash Mishra, the show is all set to give desired respect to the city’s lost poetic culture. “Lucknow is ready with a series on city literary figures reciting their poems, ghazals, nazams, this is an effort to give an impetus to city’s Adab and culture. In the programme, both Hindi and Urdu poets would be participating,” said Atma Prakash Mishra while talking to Hindustan Times.

“In our culture, poets are seen as a guide, reflection of society who give new direction to everyone. The literature is the mirror in which the reality is seen, and this show gives great poets a sense of identification in society,” said Mishra.

Five episodes of ‘Once More’ were already shot a few days back said Mishra. “The sets of the programme are aesthetically designed according to the spirit of Lucknow. The set gives an idea about the richness of our poetry,” he said.

Poets like Mukul Mahan, Sonroopa Vishal, Dr Vishnu Saxena, Anwar Jalalpuri, Sarvesh Asthana, Hasan Qazmi, Dr Kamal Musaddi, Ranjjannaa Shekhar, Surya Kumar Pandey, Ram Prakash Bekhud, Naseeem Nikhal, Kaleem Qaiser, have recited their poetries in the programme.

Young upcoming poets will also be given a chance if they send their original poetry through mobile clips to the Doordarshan.

Atma Prakash Mishra said, “When I conceptualized the show I wanted to show Lucknowites what treasure in poetry they have in city. Not only the established poets would be shown in this show, but budding poets would be getting a chance to showcase their talent in the days to come. I hope this show brings out more talent.”

source: http://www.hindustantimes.com / Hindustan Times / Home> Cities> Lucknow / by Anupam Srivastava, Hindustan Times,Lucknow / September 14th, 2017