Odishatv Bureau
Berhampur (Odisha): Power distribution company Southco in the state has threatened to snap power supply to many consumers in government departments unless they deposit the arrears in a fortnight.

The supply would be suspended from March 11-21, Southern Electricity Supply Company of Orissa Ltd (Southco) announced today.

The arrears amount to around Rs 9.40 crore accumulated between April and November, 2012, in Ganjam, Gajapati, Kandhamal, Boudh, Rayagada, Koraput, Nabarangpur and Malkangiri districts in southern parts of the state, it said.

"Clearance of arrears is necessary as Southco has decided to install pre-paid meters in government offices from April 1, 2013", said vice-president of Southco S C Choudhury, adding that these meters will be installed in houses in phases.

"We have already served notice on different departments for discontinuing power supply if they failed to deposit the arrears within the stipulted time", said Southco general manager (revenue) Sameer Kumar Swain.

The highest number of 1,263 consumers are under the state-owned Odisha Lift Irrigation Corporation (OLIC) and the arrears amount is around Rs 74,68 lakh, sources said.

Similarly, the highest arrear amount of Rs 1.64 crore is pending against 1,185 consumers under rural water supply and sanitation (RWSS) department, they said.

The other major departments with arrears are health and family welfare department with Rs 1.11 crore and 300 consumers, water resources department (Rs 1,38 crore and 113 consumers) and panchayati raj (Rs 1.04 crore and 511 consumers).

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