Srinagar, Feb 09: Taking cognizance of poor revenue realization despite providing reliable power supply amid harsh winters, the Sub Divisions of Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) disconnects 1329 consumers to sensitize masses to clear their electricity bills and develop habits of paying electricity bills in time.
As per the statement issued here, KPDCL is overburdened with huge arrears on account of domestic electricity dues of around 804 Cr and this sample base of 1329 defaulters had accumulated arrears to the tune of Rs 12.67Cr. The disconnection drive has successfully realized substantial arrears as on date and is expected to be cleared soon.
KPDCL has informed the general public of the Amnesty Scheme launched by the Govt of JK (UT) for its domestic electricity consumers with large outstanding dues, wherein a consumer can pay his outstanding bill in maximum 12 easy monthly instalments.
It is impressed upon all the consumers of KPDCL with huge electricity bill outstanding dues that this successful disconnection drive shall be continued with greater force.
Pertinent to mention that KPDCL has come out with large infrastructure additions for providing better, efficient and reliable power supply while keeping extremely low tariff rates to its consumers .
Although the Department has played an active role in motivating and facilitating revenue realization by way of social awareness of judicious electricity use and timely payment of electricity bills, still a large percentage of KPDCL consumers are hesitant in clearing their long outstanding electricity dues.
Bagh e Mehtab residents demands restoration of electricity
As the authorities disconnected more than thousand smart meters in some parts of Srinagar for non-payment of electricity bills, the residents of Bagh e Mehtab held a protest on Thursday seeking restoration of electricity in the area.
Following non-payment of electricity bills, Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) has disconnected around 1350 smart meters in the city.
The protesters urged the authorities to give them some relaxation as they come from poor economic backgrounds and can’t pay the huge outstanding amount.
Speaking to Rising Kashmir, KPDCL’s chief engineer, Er. Javid Yousuf said that these meters have been disconnected from the data centers.
“These consumers owe a lot of money to the department,” he said adding, “people in large numbers have started paying the tariff bills after this move.”
He stated that those consumers whose meters have been disconnected have no option other than paying the tariff.
The people on the other side claimed that since the installation of smart meters, there have been frequent fee hikes and no improvement in the electricity scenario. “When these meters were installed, we were assured that there would be no fee hikes,” the consumers said.
The department stated that approximately 3.5 lakh smart meters are being installed in Srinagar city, with approximately 72,000 meters already installed.
After the completion of the installation of smart meters in Srinagar, the meters would be installed in town, followed by the villages.
