Government schools in TS function without power

Hyderabad: The failure of the State Education Department to recharge the pre-paid electric meters installed in various government schools has come as bane for the students, who have to prepare for public examinations.

Just as mobile phone services are stopped if the pre-paid sim is not recharged by due date, the power utilities also stop the supply of power if the power meters are not re-charged. This is exactly what has happened in about 1,500 schools in Telangana.

This does not mean that those who have post-paid meters are not having problems. Their connections too were disconnected since they had not cleared the dues for over three months.

The most interesting part of it is that the State Capital, Hyderabad is the worst hit in this regard. Within the Hyderabad district limits, around 700 schools including primary and high schools were facing power problem.

According to the officials of the School Education department, "Trouble started in the government schools following the instructions of SPDCL (Southern Power Distribution Company Limited) to convert the electricity meters from post-paid power connections to pre-paid meters.

Normally, the funds are released quarterly to the School Education department to clear power dues. But under the new system, the pre-paid meters have to be re-charged on the due dates or else power supply would be disconnected."

This is having a cascading effect on supply of drinking water and tank water for use in toilets, washing clothes and bathing purposes. When contacted the District Education Officer, Hyderabad Venkata Narasamma, she said that the soon the issue would be resolved as the State government was now crediting funds.

However, the power utilities, the Education officials say will not accept part payment. All dues will have to be cleared before supply was restored.

School authorities have sought the intervention of the Directorate of the School Education asking the SPDCL not to disconnect electricity to the primary schools, in particular, to the high schools in view of the examinations which are round the corner.

Without power supply, it would be difficult to conduct pre-final and also main exams.