 EARLY TIMES REPORT
Bhaderwah, Sept 29: People in Gurakha village of Seri , Bhaderwah are left fuming against Power Development Department (PDD) after people received "inflated" electricity bills against the normal usage by them.
Some of consumers here today said the department in order to project good picture of its finances is using many mal practices including this 'inflated bills' tactics after its failure to manage Transmission and Distribution (T&D) losses.
In press conference locals Gurakha Morha and Shaban Morcha of Seri locality alleged that the department has unilaterally revised agreements and increased tariff. They alleged that the department has sent power bills highly inflated.
Abdul Rashid Batt , a resident of Shaban Morha of Seri said that he has received bill of Rs 360 reason better known to concerned officials. "Till last month I used to pay bill of around Rs 150 ," he lamented while airing the inflated bill of Rs 350/-
Aggrieved and agitated locals namely Shams Din Batt, Ram Raj, Gulam Qadir Lone, Mohd Iqbal Batt, Sanjay Kumar, Nand Lal , Bal Krishan , Mohd Ishfaq Batt all from Gurakha village of Seri , Bhaderwah alleged that in a large number of cases, employees of Seri PDD never went for spot inspection and have registered the usage of power by consumers at their own wishes.
"No meters have been installed in their villages and they are charging flat rates," they said while threatening, "no bills will be paid by the villagers." They also have sought immediate intervention of Chief Minister and Dy Chief Minister in this regard.
Agitated locals alleged that the residents here pay electricity bills at flat rates owing to the failure of the Power Development Department (PDD) in installing meters in all areas. They said that installation of electronic meters was started in 2004-05 in the state, but several areas of Bhaderwah and Bhalla yet have not been metered and Gurakha and Shaban Morcha of Seri area of Bhaderwah. |
