Rehan Qayoom Mir
Srinagar, Jan 8: The Power Development Department (PDD) Kashmir has come up with a monthly shocker for the residents of Achanambal and Zafran Colony area of Pantha Chowk Srinagar as power bills ranging from Rs 3500 to Rs 6000 have been shot to consumers for the month of December.
Irate locals of Achanambal, Zafran Colony, Pantha Chowk said that they were surprised to see the exaggerated bills for the December month. “We checked the bills online and it shows Rs 2760 as the opening balance and 1048 as the bill and my December bill shows Rs 3808 as amount due. We were the first to see installation of cables, digitibal meters and there is no chance of hooking, ” said Adil Bashir, resident of Zafran Colony. “This is total injustice with us as I can’t afford to pay Rs 3808 power bill monthly when I haven’t used electricity upto this amount. The PDD should instead cut my power connection.”
For Lateef Ahmed, another consumer, December bill is Rs 6600. “This is for the first time I have received the bill that shows Rs 6600 outstanding. Units consumed shows 400 but bill is Rs 6600,” Lateef said and sought the immediate attention of PDD Chief Engineer and AEE Pantha Chowk.
Similarly, hundreds of consumers from Achnambal and Zafran Colony, narrated the same tale. “We can see the opening of Rs 2760 shown to all consumers, reasons best known to PDD officials,” said Sajad Ahmed, another frustrated consumer.
Pertinently, Zafran Colony is fully metered and cabling was done four months ago while it’s adjoining area Achanambal is metered but cabling is yet to be done. “We urge PDD department to clear the confusion and end disparity. We request AEE Pantha Chowk and Chief Engineer PDD Kashmir to clear what this “opening balance” amount was all about?” asked elderly Ghulam Qadir.
The locals of Achanambal, Zafran Colony also appealed LG Manoj Sinha to intervene and direct the PDD officials to end the disparity. Meanwhile, PDD Inspector Abdul Ahad said that there has been some technical error in the system. He, however, said that aggrieved consumers should approach AEE’s office at Pantha Chowk for correction of bills.
