With security for women becoming a burning issue across the country, the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (Bescom) has decided to utilise its existing helpline to receive emergency calls from women in distress.
The existing 25 lines will be open round-the-clock to receive these complaints, which will be forwarded to the nearest police station.
This facility was inaugurated by Minister for Energy Shobha Karandlaje here on Wednesday.
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She also launched Bescom’s Industrial Customer Cell and facility facilitating online application for industrial and commercial consumers.
Speaking to mediapersons, she said that the helpline (080-22873333) is managed by the Bescom team in four shifts and is capable of receiving as many as 6,000 calls. “Right now, the helpline receives around 1,000 calls each day. After receiving the distress calls from women, the team will pass on the message to the nearest police station, besides send Bescom’s nearest field team to the spot.”
She said that the police force is already stretched and Bescom decided to extend a helping hand by taking distress calls.
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“This is not an alternative helpline to the one already launched by the traffic police.”
Bescom planned to increase the number of lines from the existing 25 to 45 in the first phase and later to 60 lines.
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Nearly 50 per cent of Bescom’s revenue comes from industrial consumers.
To cater to the needs of the industrial consumers, Bescom has launched the Industrial Customer Cell, a single-window mechanism. The Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry was involved in its design and functioning.
The cell will be managed by Bescom’s General Manager (Revenue), who is the coordinator for all HT (high tension) consumers.
“The cell was one of the long pending demands of the industries. Also, with the power situation worsening in neighbouring States, several industrialists have evinced interest to set up their units in Bangalore,” Ms. Karandlaje said.
To avoid inconveniencing the consumers, Bescom has brought the application procedure for all industrial and commercial consumers in the HT category online. “Earlier, after the applications were submitted, the power connections were given on priority basis. With the new online application system, the connections will be given only on seniority basis i.e. to those who have applied first.”
Applicants will have to just log on to >www.bescom.org/htapp/ , register the application and make the payment online.
In the next 45 days, this facility will be extended to low tension (LT) consumers as well, she added.