Power bills pending, board cracks down on defaulters

Raj Sadosh

Abohar, December 6

Unable to pay Rs 24 crore to Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) in the past decade, Punjab Water Supply & Sewerage Board (PWSSB) officials have launched a drive to recover Rs 6 crore that consumers are yet to pay despite relaxations offered by the state government.

As a team led by Sub-Divisional Engineer Harsharanjit Singh started disconnecting water and sewerage connections in Azeemgarh and Uttam Vihar Colony, defaulters paid Rs 90,000 on the spot. In a panic mode, consumers in other areas, too, rushed to the old water works-based PWSSB office and paid bills amounting to Rs 60,000. This was a record receipt in a single day, sources said.

The PSPCL had in March this year initiated proceedings to disconnect supply to thePWSSB and the Municipal Council but deferred the action when Sub Divisional Magistrate Poonam Singh intervened and assured that the defaulting bodies would clear the dues in instalments soon. The MC, which is under the control of the BJP-SADfor the past nine years, is yet to formulate a plan to clear the PSPCL dues.

Notably, Minister of Local Bodies Navjot Singh Sidhu, on the recommendation ofPPCC president and Abohar native Sunil Jakhar, had ordered the shifting ofPWSSB divisions from Ludhiana (under the administrative control of Superintending Engineer, Bathinda) to Abohar with effect from October 1. Amechanical subdivision was also shifted from Ludhiana to Abohar, taking the total number of subdivisions in Abohar to two.

The move aimed at streamlining work under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) but officials observed that work might be severely affected if PSPCL dues, mostly on account ofSewerage Treatment Plant, were not paid though instalments.

The officials decided to launch a drive against erring consumers. Sixteen zoneshave been earmarked to effect recoveries from consumers in 33 Municipal council wards.