We charge as per consumed energy by consumers: PDD officials
Reyaz Rashid
Baramulla: Scores of people from different metered and non-metered areas of Baramulla district against Power Development Department (PDD) Baramulla for issuing inflated bills to them randomly without taking into account meter readings and previous tariffs in both metered and non-metered areas.
As if irking power supply and excessive electricity tariff was not enough, PDD Baramulla division issued bills at the rate of Rs 750 and Rs 850 to 1250 all consumers from both metered and non-metered areas to fleece consumers as usual and the practice continues. Groaning under the burden of skyrocketing inflation, the hapless consumer has no way out but to protest against the injustice.
The consumers from old town Baramulla- Sherkhass under the banner of Sherkhas Welfare Association staged strong protest demonstration against administration and PDD department besides tore off and burnt electricity bills as a gesture of defiance.
“ Unfortunately, bill don’t come as per readings and there are huge corrections in the bills for which we are being forced to visit PDD office several times for none of our faults. We clear one bill and next month the opening balance stands same which is mere torture to the common people as their time gets wasted with frequent visits to the office,” said a protestor Bashir Ahmad of old town.
Not only this, consumers of the different areas including Sheeri, Zogiyar, Heewan, Malpora Narvaw, Zandafaran, Khwajabagh, Nowpora, Kanlibagh and other areas are with similar complaints.
Interestingly, among the protesters was an elderly retire PDD employee Trilok Singh of Noorbagh who had received an electricity bill Rs 815 for 94 Units for the month of July 2021.
“I was myself in the department I know everything what happens here. My meter reading is the proof of my usage; they must charge me as per meter reading. How can they charge me for others misuse of electricity,” asked Singh.
A shabbily dressed widow, Khatiji Begum, the mother of six daughters, who cried out against a bill of Rs 850. “I have no option but to beg on streets to pay the bill. I have one electric lamp in my tin shed that too LED; previously I used to get Rs 100-150 per month. Now the bill Rs 750 how can I pay,” she rued.
The protestors said they would not pay the bills without correction and tore off bills in front of officials after some PDD officials misbehaved with those visiting them for rectification of bills.
The justification of inflated bills offered by PDD authorities is that more electricity is consumed by the people and reading is very low which indicates there is power theft. Thus they have warned the consumers to be prepared to face yet another inflated bill for the month of August and strict checking of power theft which would penalize them Rs 15000 on spot.
“People are using electricity ruthlessly and there is rampant power theft. I have been given target of 51.93 lacs per month set by the government as energy consumed by this sub division. Then who is using the power if meters are showing just 15 units per family,” said a official of PDD department.
He added people should cooperate and have responsibility towards the department. PDD don’t have employees to monitor every electric poll for power theft.