The Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST) committee on Monday discussed paying employees and suppliers in instalments so that there are no delays and money can be paid over time without causing them inconvenience.

At the meeting, BJP corporator Sunil Ganacharya said salaries were not being paid to employees on time and no one was paying attention to this problem. Mr. Ganacharya said, “Nearly ₹14 to ₹15 crore is generated through electric supply and ₹2 to ₹3 crore by the traffic department. In two weeks around ₹270 crore is generated. The amount required to pay salaries is around ₹30 crore to ₹35 crore. Initially, the salary was supposed to reach the employees by the 10th of every month. Now it has shifted to the 15th of every month.”

Suggesting a new pattern to solve this issue, Mr. Ganacharya proposed that charges of ₹1.5 crore paid to Tata Power for supplying electricity be paid in two instalments on the 1st and 15th of every month, instead of paying the entire sum in the first week. He said, “The salaries of the transport employees can be paid in instalments on the 1st, 3rd, 7th and 10th of every month. The engineering department also can be given salary on 10th, 20th and 30th of each month.”

Mr. Ganacharya proposed that bigger electric clients contribute 16% to BEST and that officers should personally give them the bill. “There should be a system which shows how much money comes in and how it is spent or saved,” he said.

‘Give interest-free loans’

Shiv Sena committee member Anil Kokil said in the past four to five years there have been no recruitments while 4,000-5,000 employees have retired. Bonus to employees has also not been paid. He said, “There is a lot of money saved here. It is our duty to cater to the needs of our employees. How will they work if the salary is not given on time and if it is not raised as well?” Mr. Kokil demanded that the Brihanamumbai Municipal Corporation provide interest-free loans.

The member raised the issue of the meter boxes being faulty and causing short circuits. Mr. Kokil said, “In May, the load will be more since the temperature is high. Notices should be given to societies to check the boxes. The permission to repair faulty meters has been given.”

Committee member Sunil Ahir said in the slums, the doors guarding the meter boxes are broken. Anil Patankar, chairman of the BEST committee, said along with the protection of meter boxes, “the residents should also ensure that the earthing is proper”. “Pamphlets should be made on precautionary measures, and the role of BEST in case of an emergency should also be mentioned,” Mr. Ahir said.

Members also spoke of using social media platforms such as Facebook and YouTube to connect with people. “There are times when BEST employees and commuters give their views regarding problems they face. Often this information is false and BEST does not give any clarification for it,” Mr. Ganacharya said. The member suggested that in order to improve BEST’s image and curb false assumptions, BEST’s PROs should issue press releases or participate in interviews.