KPDCL launches disconnection drive against ‘chronic defaulters’

SRINAGAR — Tightening the noose against the ‘chronic defaulters’, the Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) in a first-of-its-kind drive has disconnected the electricity supply to 1350 consumers having smart meters.

While talking to the news agency KNO, Chief Engineer, KPDCL, Javed Yousuf Dar, said that the KPDCL has disconnected the power supply to 1350 consumers having smart meters. “The process to disconnect the electricity supply to chronic defaulters is already going on. There is nothing new in it. But, for the first time, the consumers having smart meters have faced the action,” he said.

He further said that the action against the defaulters who don’t have smart meters is already going on since last November, adding that the electricity supply of those consumers who are clearing the pending bills is being restored within 24 hours.

The Chief Engineer further said that the action in this regard is being taken in a phased manner, adding that in the first phase, the department is taking action against the ‘chronic defaulters’.

Moreover, the KPDCL in a statement has informed the people about the amnesty scheme launched by the government for its domestic electricity consumers with large outstanding dues, wherein a consumer can pay his outstanding bill in a maximum of 12 easy monthly installments.

The statement impressed upon all the consumers of KPDCL with huge electricity bill outstanding dues that this successful disconnection drive shall be continued with greater force. KPDCL has come out with large infrastructure addition for providing better, efficient, and reliable power supply while keeping extremely low tariff rates to its consumers, it said.

Although the Department has played an active role in motivating and facilitating revenue realization by way of social awareness of judicious electricity use and timely payment of electricity bills, still a large percentage of KPDCL consumers are hesitant in clearing their long outstanding electricity dues, KPDCL said.

“All consumers in general and defaulters, in particular, are advised to clear their electricity outstanding dues or avail amnesty scheme without further delay and help KPDCL to avoid the inconvenience to consumers by the act of disconnection of their power supply,” it said.

The statement impressed upon all the consumers of KPDCL with huge electricity bill outstanding dues that this successful disconnection drive shall be continued with greater force.