Panipat villagers resolve not to pay electricity bills

Mukesh Tandon

Tribune News Service

Brahman Majra (Panipat), May 30

Residents of Brahman Majra village today decided not to pay electricity bills if the Power Department continued to press for shifting meters outside their houses.

The decision was taken at a panchayat in Choupal village to resolve the stand-off between the department and villagers regarding shifting of electricity meters.

In the past week, teams of the department visited Brahman Majra thrice to shift meters out and, every time, villagers opposed them. On one occasion, villagers beat up officials.

The police booked more than 20 villagers, including women, on the charge of beating up government employees and obstructing them to perform their duty.

Israna Subdivisional Officer (SDO) Vishal Goyat, Junior Engineer (JE) Deepak Sharma, who were present in the meeting, tried to make them understand the situation, but to no avail.

“We came to talk to villagers and end the deadlock. Higher officials of the department will be apprised of the villagers’ decision not to pay bills,” said Goyat.

Villagers protest power cuts 

Israna (Panipat): Brahman Majra villagers protested against prolonged power cuts at a power house in Israna on Monday. Vishal Goyat, SDO, Israna, assured them of increasing the duration of supply by five hours a day on the condition that they allowed shifting of meters outside their houses. Heavy police force was deployed at the power house under the supervision of DSP Deshraj. Goyat warned villagers that if they did not allow shifting of meters, supply would be provided only for 14 hours. "Power supply will be increased by five hours in Israna on the directions of higher officials of the department. If villagers will not cooperate, supply will be for 14 hours only," the SDO added.