Government departments major power bill defaulters in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Several government departments are the biggest electricity bill defaulters in Odisha with an arrear of Rs 413 crore outstanding against them since long.

Such startling facts emerged after the Energy department wrote to principal secretaries, heads of several departments and district collectors to pay their pending electricity dues.

What is more surprising is the fact that Energy department too features in the defaulters list with Rs 1.09 crores electricity dues outstanding against its offices in five districts.

Rs 13.26 crore is also pending against 30 departments in seven municipalities, four NACs in the State. 56 agencies and departments owe CESU a whopping Rs 81.45 crore while an arrear of Rs 9 crore of WESCO is pending against several departments.

It is believed that the outstanding electricity bills are likely to affect the State’s overall development process though efforts have begun for collecting the arrears.

Also Read: Electricity tariffs may see a hike soon

“We have written to concerned authorities of respective departments for payment of electricity dues. We have also requested the Chief Secretary to make some provision in supplementary budget for collection of the arrears,” said Energy Minister, Prafulla Mallick.

Consumers’ forum on the other hand has vehemently opposed GRIDCO’s move to appeal for a hike in power tariffs at a time when several government departments have not paid their electricity bills for years.

“Such situation would not have arisen if pending dues were collected on time. We are opposing hike in tariffs, as an attempt is now being made to pass on the burden to the consumers,” said president of Electricity Consumers Association, Ramesh Satpathy.

The power companies are reluctant to bear the burden of the outstanding dues and are keen on tiding over the situation through a hike in tariffs.

In the meantime, a BJP delegation today moved Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission (OERC) against irregularities in payment of electricity dues by government departments and GRIDO’s appeal for hike in power tariffs in State.

“Energy department is also a defaulter and why should a consumer bear the brunt of outstanding dues of government departments,” said BJP General Secretary, Bhrugu Baxipatra.

Congress MLA Prakash Behera on the other hand targeted Odisha Government for such precarious situation of the power sector.

“Government is trying to hike power tariffs to adjust the outstanding dues of Rs 413 crore which is totally unfortunate,” said Behera.