Power corporation cracks down on defaulters in Kashmir Valley

Srinagar, July 19

Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) today said it had intensified its drive against non-payment of electricity bills and remotely disconnected thousands of smart-metered connections.

A KPDCL spokesperson said in flat-rated areas, those consumers who hadn’t paid their pending dues for months “together, their connections were being physically disconnected” till they clear their bills.

According to the spokesperson, fervent appeals had been made, urging consumers to pay their bills on time. “The KPDCL is a service provider that needs timely clearance of bills by all categories of consumers for electricity supplied to remain economically viable,” it said.

It said while 1,134 smart-metered connections were disconnected in electric division (ESD) Chanapora on Thursday, supply of 440 consumers in ESD Baramulla I, 240 in ESD Baramulla II and 228 in ESD Qazigund was also snapped.

A large number of consumers are being remotely disconnected across other subdivisions of Habba Kadal, Watalkadal, Hawal, Anantnag, Kupwara, Handwara, Sopore, Budgam, Chadoora, Zainakote, Zakura, Nishat and Dalgate for not paying bills for over three months, the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said the KPDCL would further accelerate the drive against defaulters who were reluctant to pay their electricity bills on time.

According to officials, consumers should approach the electric subdivision concerned for paying principal amount in full or instalments, enabling them to claim waiver on late payment surcharge.

“To facilitate consumers, the KPDCL is organising amnesty camps on a daily basis across all electric divisions. So far, over 1 lakh domestic consumers have availed the benefits of the scheme,” the statement said.

The action

While 1,134 smart-metered connections were disconnected in electric division (ESD) Chanapora on Thursday, supply of 440 consumers in ESD Baramulla I, 240 in ESD Baramulla II and 228 in ESD Qazigund was also snapped.