‘Inflated’ power bills triggers protest by residents
Srinagar: Locals especially women folk Thursday blocked road in Nishat here in Srinagar outskirts and staged a massive protest against Power Development Department.
The protestors alleged that PDD is dispatching fatty bills to them every month, extracting extra money from them even though the area faces erratic power cuts.
The protesters raised slogans against Assistant Executive Engineer-Sub Division Dalgate and alleged that the said official is unilaterally dispatching huge power bills to the consumers and tries to appease his bosses by doing so.
The protesters demanded immediate revocation of the electricity bills. They appealed to authorities to look into the matter.
“The AEE Sub Division Dalgate dispatches inflated bills showing increased consumption load every month without any survey or any ground visit,” said a protester, adding that some bills were hiked from rupees 500 a month to rupees 750 and others from 700 to 1000.
The protesters said that unilateral increase of power fee is unacceptable to them and they will not pay any penny till the Department enters into an agreement with them.
“Where is the electricity and why shall we pay such a hefty amount when we witness unscheduled power cuts day in and day out,” the protesters said.
When contacted, an official from PDD said that bills are being dispatched on the basis of consumption of electricity.
“We have dispatched bills to consumers taking their consumption into account,” he said but added matter will still be looked into. (KNT)
KV News
