Power discom gets ₹56 crore dues in scrapped currency

The coffers of power distribution company Dakshin Haryana Vitran Nigam (DHVBN) has swollen since the Centre announced demonetisation of high value currency notes as a number of defaulters turned up at to clear their dues.

The coffers of power distribution company Dakshin Haryana Vitran Nigam (DHVBN) has swollen since the Centre announced demonetisation of high value currency notes as a number of defaulters turned up at to clear their dues.

Consumers queue up to pay their bills at the costumer care centre in Sector 31 on Friday.(Parveen Kumar/HT Photo)

Of the total collected amount collected since November 9, about 60% are from defaulters, an official said. The discom, which caters to south Haryana, collected ₹92 crore till Friday. Of the total amount, ₹56 crore was deposited by defaulters.

In Gurgaon, the discom collected ₹29 crore till Friday of which ₹16 crore was deposited by defaulters.

Consumers are rushing to clear their dues as the discom still accepts the demonetised ₹500 and ₹1,000 notes, an official said on condition of anonymity.

The Centre has exempted payment of dues to government establishments, among other facilities, in demonetised currency notes till November 24.

An industrialist in Manesar paid ₹28 lakh to clear his dues while a Gurgaon businessman paid pending bills worth ₹18 lakh in demonetised currency notes, the officer said.

Official sources said a businessman in Faridabad has also offered to clear his dues of ₹97 lakh.

“We appealed to the defaulters and those with permanently disconnected accounts to settle the dues. Demonetisation has made defaulters clear their dues. Action will be initiated against defaulters who still do not cleared dues,” Arun Kumar Verma, managing director, DHVBN, said.

DHVBN caters to Gurgaon, Hisar, Faridabad, Sirsa, Bhiwani, Rewari, Palwal, Jind, and Narnaul districts. Gurgaon is the discom’s main source of revenue, contributing more than 50% of the revenue.