Electricity dues swell to Rs 635 cr in Faridabad circle

Bijendra Ahlawat

Tribune News Service

Faridabad, October 1

Consumers in the Faridabad circle owe Rs 635-crore power dues to the Daskshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN). This is reportedly 16.72 per cent more than that of last year.

Sources in the DHBVN say the dues have reached an all-time high, though a drive was launched to realise the dues and check power theft.

The dues stood at Rs 489 crore in March last year. In a period up to September this year, the dues rose sharply to Rs 635 crore, including Rs 269 crore, towards disconnected consumers.

As a consumer, the local Municipal Corporation owes Rs 82 crore to the DHBVN in September.

In February, the MC had cleared a Rs190-crore bill taking the benefit of the interest waiver scheme, with Rs42 crore still unpaid.

In September, the bill amount swelled to Rs82 crore as the MC failed to clear the bills on time.

Ashutosh Rajan, Joint Commissioner, MC (Old Faridabad), said all power connections that were lying unused were being disconnected to reduce the bill burden.

Social activist Varun Sheokand said line losses, poor recovery and use of substandard material were the root of the problem. “Cables worth Rs 42 crore had failed tests recently,” he claimed.

PK Chauhan, Superintending Engineer, DHBVN, admitted that consumers owed Rs 635 crore. He, however, hung up soon,saying that he will revert. But he failed to take calls later.