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| Sunday, 8 December 2002 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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CEB blames CMC for tapping power lines by ANTON NONIS The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) blames the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) for frequent tapping of electricity from CEB power lines, despite the power quota it has been allocated for street lighting, CEB Deputy General Manager (Colombo City), Ranjith Gunawardene, told the 'Sunday Observer'. The CMC has done this on several occasions in the past. During the `Month of Festivities', when Colombo is aglow with bright illuminations, the CEB suspects that the CMC is tampering with the Electricity Board's power. The CEB has allocated CMC with a separate power quota for street lighting. But it cannot go on tapping power indiscriminately. Asked how the CEB would substantiate its allegation, Gunawardene said that it was quite evident from the additional street lamps installed throughout the city. The CMC's electricity bill is being met by the Treasury, but only a part of the current bill is paid with the balance remaining in arrears most of the time. This tends to create problems for the CEB. However, CMC Commissioner, Dr.Jayantha Liyanage said that the CMC had not drawn any power for the Month of Festivities. The decorative lighting in the city has been undertaken to a great extent by the Ministry of Interior and the rest by the private sector. During the recent past, the country was faced with a serious power crisis, which compelled the authorities to enforce irregular power cuts to meet consumer demand to a great extent. Subsequnetly, the CEB decided to permanently do away with the power cuts with the aid of thermal power and private sector supplies. When asked about the CEB's power capacity, General Manager, D.C Wijeratne, said its very satisfactory. "We have adequate power to meet difficult situations". |
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