Mohd Ashraf Ganie
Kulgam 31 July【KNZ】:Residents of different villages in Kulgam district are up in arms against the Power Development Department (PDD) for allegedly dispatching ‘inflated’ power bills to the consumers.
The residents of Poniwaha, Zazripora, Awgaam,Bugam alleged that PDD division Kulgam has sent them electricity bills at flat rates despite their areas falling under metered areas.
“PDD has charged us extra fee even as the electricity remained disrupted for most of the time in the area. They have charged Rs. 693 for 270 units consumed during the month of July at a time when we saw meter first time in life” said Abdul Rashid a resident of Zazripora told Kaahmir News Zone.
Two days ago the PDD dispatched electricity bill for the month of July, they had charged Rs. 1200 even as I have not consumed so much electricity.
Similarly, another consumer has been charged Rs. 727 for 19 units consumed during the month of July. The residents said that the PDD has failed to provide power supply to them as per their own schedule, but when they have to send electricity bills, they charge hefty sums.
“We fail to understand why the department has charged us bills at flat rates when our areas are metered. They are sending bills to the consumers as per their own wish.
They should charge us as per the units we have utilized during the month. What for they had installed meters here when had to charge us at flat rates,” the residents said.
The residents threatened that if the department failed to waive off the overcharged bills, they would be forced to come out on streets to register their protest.
When Kashmir News Zone Bureau Chief Mohd Ashraf Contacted Assistant Engineer IT he said that we have installed 3000 metres recently in these villages as before they were paying as a flat rate which has changed now to electric digital metres as the consumers using boilers, heaters, electric rods or other electronic gadgets.
They have to pay as per consumption of units which was not before it, I know general public will face problems till they understand the meter reading.KNZ
