Subadh Kumar Nayak

Bhubaneswar: The Central Electricity Supply Utility (CESU) on Thursday announced to suspend its ongoing power disconnection drive for a temporary period. At a presser, CESU CEO Arun Bothra informed that a 10-day relaxation will be given to the defaulters to clear their pending electricity dues.

“As of now, CESU has decided to suspend the disconnection drive till February 16 and we urge people to pay their pending dues. We will resume the power disconnection drive if people fail to clear pending bills within this relaxation period.”

Speaking about the collection, Bothra informed that CESU collected Rs 72.66 crore so far from the defaulters ever since the power disconnection drive began on January 16. Among those who cleared their pending dues mainly consists nearly 80 percent commercial and 20 percent domestic consumers.

Out of Rs 72.66 crore, payment of Rs 7.36 crore was received online, Bothra informed adding that as many as 1, 00,694 consumers paid their pending dues partially and assured to pay balance amount in phases while 25,531 defaulters made full payment of their pending dues.

Official sources said power supply to 21,339 defaulter consumers was disconnected since the launch special drive from January 16 till the end of February 5. However, power supply was restored to 9,289 consumers after they cleared arrears either partially or fully.

The power supply utility has also received grievances from consumers over their electricity bills. “We have received applications from 35,277 consumers who have alleged irregularity in their electricity bills. We will look into their allegations seriously and resolve such disputes over bills within these ten days,” Bothra added.

It is worthwhile to mention here that the Central Electricity Supply Utility had begun the mass drive of disconnecting power supply to defaulting consumers across various areas under its jurisdiction on January 16.

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