SRINAGAR, NOV 16: To recover tariff from defaulters, the Jammu and Kashmir government is considering publicly naming power defaulters whose dues are exceeding over Rs 1 lakh.
A senior official said J&K Power Development Corporation Limited (JKPDCL) has been asked to identify big power tariff defaulters and submit a list to the government.
“There are some people, especially various businessmen and politicians who owe power tariff lakhs of rupees to the government. The government has taken serious note that there are some big power defaulters in Jammu and Kashmir whose tariffs have been pending for years. Their names will be published on billboards in our department and also in their respective areas. Government will also publish their names in newspapers whose dues over Rs 1 lakh are pending,” the official said.
It has also been decided to disconnect their power connections, the official said, adding that the initiative aims to curb power theft and includes issuing notices to government departments with outstanding dues.
J&K has purchased power around Rs 30,000 crore over the last one decade and there has been a revenue realization gap of Rs 3,500 annually thus putting a huge burden on the state exchequer. Besides that Union Territory has poor infrastructure of electricity, resulting in often disruption of power.
The purchase of electricity to meet consumer demand is putting a huge burden on the Jammu and Kashmir administration as the Union Territory is making revenue realization of Rs 3500 crore against power purchase of Rs 7500 crore annually.
J&K has a hydroelectricity potential of 20,000 MWs of which around 3500 MWs are being generated by various corporations. “J&K has to purchase electricity worth hundreds of crores annually from the centre-owned NHPC and other power corporations. While we receive less than 50 percent tariff from consumers here putting a huge burden on the state exchequer,” an official of Jammu Kashmir Power Development Corporation (KPDC), said.
