Srinagar, Mar 13: The Jammu and Kashmir government has exposed a staggering electricity dues crisis, disclosing that the top 100 defaulters owe over ₹1,000 crores, with government bodies and industrial units accounting for the bulk of the debt.
In response to a query by MLA Sheikh Khursheed, the government revealed shocking figures, with defaulters collectively running up bills that have put a massive strain on the power sector.
Among the largest defaulters, Baba Jangi in the Ganderbal Sumbal Division leads with an outstanding bill of ₹63.78 crores. Prominent government-linked entities are also heavily involved, including the Chief Engineer of the Salal Hydroelectric Project (NHPC) with ₹56.96 crores, XEN PHE Sopore (Public Health Engineering) at ₹45.84 crores, J&K Minerals Ltd owing ₹42.43 crores, and the Rappora Lift Irrigation Project (Awantipora) with ₹39.83 crores. Other significant defaulters include the Municipal Council Street Light in Samba, which owes ₹39.53 crores, MS Surya Pharmaceutical in Samba at ₹35.83 crores, and Jalaligund Tularzoo Lift Station in Ganderbal, with ₹31.76 crores.
The defaulters’ list also exposes widespread non-compliance across several other public utilities, including CRPF camps, municipal councils, and irrigation departments. The private sector is not exempt either, with industries such as MS BBF Industries (₹4.87 crore) and Shiv Shakti Cement (₹4.12 crore) contributing to the mounting debt.
To address this crisis, the Minister in charge of the Power Development Department (PDD) shared that 2,75,081 consumers have enrolled in the ongoing amnesty scheme, with 1,60,507 from Jammu and 1,14,574 from Kashmir. The scheme offers a chance for consumers with pending bills to clear their dues in installments, along with relief on interest and penalties.
The government has granted an amnesty scheme to consumers with pending bills, allowing them to clear dues in installments and get relief on interest and penalties, the Minister added.
However, disclosing the full list of beneficiaries has proved to be a logistical challenge, with the data spanning over 10,000 pages. Authorities have offered to share specific details privately with MLA Sheikh Khursheed if necessary.
The list has exposed deep-rooted issues in billing compliance, particularly among state-run departments. Multiple divisions of the Public Health Engineering (PHE) and several irrigation projects owe crores, raising concerns about fiscal discipline. Additionally, municipal bodies responsible for street lighting have a collective outstanding balance of over ₹60 crores. The CRPF camps and migrant facilities have also defaulted on their dues.
LIST OF Defaulters:
Baba Jangi (Ganderbal’s Sumbal Division) – ₹63.78 cr
Chief Engineer, Salal Hydroelectric Project (NHPC) – ₹56.96 cr
XEN PHE Sopore (Public Health Engineering) – ₹45.84 cr
J&K Minerals Ltd – ₹42.43 cr
Rappora Lift Irrigation Project – ₹39.83 cr
Municipal Council Street Light (Samba) – ₹39.53 cr
