Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, Feb 14: Resorting to punitive action after expiry of the deadline for liquidating arrears, the Power Development Department (PDD) has started snapping electricity connection of major defaulting consumers while another list of defaulters having unpaid PDD tariff from Rs 1-5 lakh is being made public within days.
According to the authoritative sources, electricity connections of more than 500 defaulters have been snapped in Jammu and Kashmir provinces while the drive is still on for similar action against the consumers who did not clear their arrears by February 12.
Excluding the public utility installations like PHE and Health institutions, PDD also snapped the electricity connections of several defaulting Government departments, whose arrears were in lakhs, sources told the Excelsior. The office of Settlement Commissioner was among those who had to face electricity disconnection owing to non-payment of arrears, sources added.
Some prominent business establishments, whose electricity connections were snapped, included Hari Niwas Palace, Hotel Jewel and Restaurant, Choudhary Motors, KC Public School, AFCON, some banks and private cellular companies.
Before resorting to punitive action, the PDD had issued separate public notices informing about the defaulting consumers with electricity arrears in lakhs. On January 17, the Department served two-week disconnection notice to the consumers of commercial category against whom the electricity bills have swelled to Rs 10 lakh or more. The list included 130 consumers against whom the total arrears pending were Rs 54 crore. Again on January 30, the PDD came out with another list of consumers who had electricity arrears of Rs five lakh or more. They were also served two-week disconnection notice.
Some prominent business establishments, mentioned in the list of defaulters included Nawa-e-Subah, the headquarters of National Conference in Kashmir, Hari Niwas Palace, M/s Simula Software Solutions and Research Centre, Tramboo Joinery Mills, Tramboo Cement, Jewel Hotel and Restaurant, PNB, Amar Singh Club, Kargil House, Choudhary Motors, High Land Automobiles, BSNL, Reliance, Tawi Stone Crusher, Bahu Cold Storage, Airtel, Vodaphone, SKUAST, Dewan Modern Breweries, Jodhamal, Cadila Pharmaceuticals, Rajasthan Cement, LEIGHTON, AFCON etc.
As some of the defaulters escaped the punitive action by depositing their arrears, the PDD realized more than Rs 60 lakh recoveries from such consumers, sources said.
As reported by the Excelsior, the PDD is also going to initiate legal action the defaulting consumers in addition to disconnection of their electricity connection. The petition for recovery of arrears shall be filed before the Court of Electricity Magistrate under Section 50, 132 of Jammu and Kashmir Electricity Act 2010 and Section 8 of Jammu and Kashmir Electricity Duty Act 1963. To ensure legal sanctity to its action against the defaulters, the PDD has already filed a cavet in the State High Court.
Meanwhile, sources said that another list of defaulting consumers having arrears from Rs one lakh to Rs five lakh has almost been prepared by the PDD for serving disconnection notice and is likely to be made public within days.
The total electricity tariff arrears against consumers in Jammu and Kashmir are Rs 1160 crore. The Government departments owe more than Rs 810 crore while the arrears against domestic and commercial connection consumers are Rs 350 crore.
During the last financial year, a revenue of Rs 1203 crore was collected against the target of Rs 1600 crore.
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