Defaulters’ power connections to be restored in Ludhiana

There are around 45,000 defaulters in Ludhiana city, and around 2,000 connections have already been snapped over non-payment of dues.

In a major relief to residents whose power supply had been snapped over the past year due to outstanding dues, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday announced that defaulters’ power connections will be restored and they will also be able to clear their dues in instalments.

Asserting that the connections will be restored starting Wednesday, Ludhiana West MLA-elect Gurpreet Gogi said officials have been directed to collect the pending dues worth ₹160 crore in instalment, should the defaulters be unable to clear their dues in one go. (Gurpreet Singh/HT)

There are around 45,000 defaulters in the city, and around 2,000 connections have already been snapped over non-payment of dues.

To allow residents, especially those in the lower echelons of the socio-economic strata, to clear their power bills, action against thousands of defaulters has also been postponed.

Asserting that the connections will be restored starting Wednesday, Ludhiana West MLA-elect Gurpreet Gogi said officials have been directed to collect the pending dues worth ₹160 crore in instalment, should the defaulters be unable to clear their dues in one go.

Gogi was accompanied by Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL, Ludhiana) chief engineer Jasbir Singh and deputy chief engineer Sanjeev Prabhakar.

The officials stated said around 45,000 customers (using residential, commercial and industrial connections) had defaulted on paying their electricity bills in Ludhiana city (east and west zones of the PSPCL).

“Residents are also facing certain issues in availing new power connections, which will be resolved over the coming days,” said Gogi, while adding that PSPCL officials had been asked to establish a help desk at sub-stations, so that consumers were not inconvenienced.

Prabhakar said, “The PSPCL can restore power connections if consumers settle their pending bills within a year. Our field staff has been directed to reinstate defaulters’ connections and collect pending bills in instalments.” 

Before meeting the PSPCL officials, Gogi also got an open garbage dump cleared from the main road in New Sham

Nagar near Sunet railway crossing with the help of municipal corporation (MC) workers.

Bhagat Singh’s statue to be installed in SBS Nagar

Gogi said that a statue of freedom fighter Bhagat Singh will be installed in the E-block of the market of Shaheed Bhagat Singh (SBS) Nagar.

“I have inspected the site with MC and LIT officials. Work at the site will commence in a day or two,”he said.