Report of Indian Institute of Public Administration ... - Ministry of Power

State Reports (Vol.-III)
Study on `Impact of Restructuring of SEBs’
information relating to, but not limited to, technical, financial, administrative, and
operational and consumer service related areas and its generation, access and control
at various levels. The system design ensures that the primary information, forming the
basis of any computation/presentation later on, is captured and recorded in the
database, at the instant and at the location only it is generated. This primary
information so generated cannot be tampered with and can be modified through duly
authorised high-level intervention after recording reasons needing such later
modification. Such information in the database forms the base of any further
compilation/analysis at various levels in the organisation.
Presently such a system is not in place in the restructured companies. The existing IT
department in the holding company of MSEB deals primarily with meter reading and
billing activities including development of required software in respect of sale of
energy to different categories of consumers of MSEDCL. Its role is thus very limited
as compared to that required for setting up of a computerised information system
elaborated above. This department fits in its role as a part of MSEDCL, rather than as
a shared service as designated at present.
It is very urgent that MSEB Holding Company (MSEBHC) attends to this important
requirement of establishing a computerised information system designed to suit
individual requirements of all the restructured entities as well as common business
requirements for all companies, on top priority. This would avoid wastage of manhours
and energy of the staff in collecting required information every time afresh
besides ensuring availability of most recent and reliable information pertaining to any
desired aspect by one and all in a transparent way. Such instant availability of
information to all concerned, could also help in generating internal pressure on nonperforming
persons/sections/areas/operations within the organisation by way of
facilitating comparison of performances of similarly situated persons/sections/areas/
operations.
For speedy results, the system design should be outsourced and the agency could be
asked to work in close coordination with the end users so as to ensure that it is user-
friendly and implemented in a short span of time. The entire work of running the
system in the initial period could be entrusted to the agency. Departmental staff should
be suitably trained in this period to take over the responsibility of operating/updating
the system under agency’s supervision for a comfortable period of support.
10.6