Nagpur Farmer Solar Pump Case: MSEDCL Ordered to Pay
A farmer from Nagpur aged 69 was relieved. It was when a consumers’ commission directed the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) to complete the installation of his long-overdue solar agricultural pump within 60 days. The commission said MSEDCL should also compensate him with Rs 35,000 for delays in installation. Also, legal expenses incurred by him in the process.
In July 2019, he had paid Rs 16,560 for a 3 HP solar pump connection. But he had waited for over seven years to get an installation done.
How did the farmer approach the consumer commission?
The farmer, who lives at Parshivani tehsil in Nagpur district, approached for a solar pump to be installed for a well in his 1.83-hectare land in Mauza Dundakhairi.
Despite following up several times and sending a legal notice in January 2021, MSEDCL did not install the pump. He then approached the Additional District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in February 2021.
MSEDCL claimed during the hearing that the farmer sent letters retracting his demand for a solar pump. Also that he requested for a regular three phase power connection. The farmer denied this, claiming he was illiterate and that company employees forged his signature.
Commission Finds Fault in Service
The commission observed flaws in MSEDCL’s documentation. Though the utility claimed that the farmer had pulled out from the solar scheme. It had accepted his selection of Tata Power Solar Limited as the provider in May 2020. They carried out a joint site inspection in September 2020.
The commission explained that had the farmer actually withdrawn his application, MSEDCL should have refunded him his deposit and closed the case. Ascertaining that the utility was liable for the deficiency of service under the Consumer Protection Act of 2019, the commission ordered it to set up the pump without demanding any further charges from him.
Compensation of Rs 35,000 Ordered
The commission directed MSEDCL to pay Rs 25,000 for mental agony and Rs 10,000 for lawyer fees within 30 days. Also, the commission stated that failure to comply would lead to an accrual of interest at the rate of 9% per annum. They rejected the claim of the farmer of Rs 24.93 lakhs for alleged loss of cotton crops in 2019 and 2020. Further, they stated that the expected yield and causes of crop failure were not supported by sufficient independent evidence.
The decision marks a crucial advancement in consumer rights and a notable recent news updates. It emphasized the necessity of accountability and prompt public utility services.
