THE MADHYA Pradesh State Electricity Board (MPSEB) has told the Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) to deposit the dues of electricity bills worth Rs 31.14 crore or face power disconnection. The MPSEB even disconnected the streetlights for about one and half hour Tuesday evening.
Old dues for power bills of the streetlights and water supply system are mounting due to non-payment or the part payment of the bills over the past several months. The BMC uses electricity worth about Rs 2.5 crore every month. Of this, the electricity bills for the power supply system are highest — some Rs two crore per month. Power consumption in streetlights cost around Rs 50 lakh.
It is learnt that the electricity board had written a letter in this regard on October 26 demanding settlement of the old dues besides the current bills. In September, the BMC consumed electricity worth Rs 2.35 crore. Of this, the streetlights consumed electricity worth Rs 34.66 lakh. The BMC has already been asking for the dues worth Rs 25 crore as rent of electricity poles and transformers installed within the BMC limits.
When asked, Additional Superintending Engineer, North, MPSEB, V K Sinha said they have still been waiting for the payment of electricity bills of last month. Sinha said the electricity supply for about one and half hour was stopped this evening. He also said engineers from all four zones of the MPSEB are waiting for the payment since Tuesday morning.
{{/usCountry}}When asked, Additional Superintending Engineer, North, MPSEB, V K Sinha said they have still been waiting for the payment of electricity bills of last month. Sinha said the electricity supply for about one and half hour was stopped this evening. He also said engineers from all four zones of the MPSEB are waiting for the payment since Tuesday morning.
{{/usCountry}}BMC Commissioner Manish Singh said electricity bills were not paid last month as the recovery was affected due to flood-like situation in the City.
Now, we are paying the bills of current month, he added. Singh also said that the Bhopal Municipal Corporation is also working for providing services to the people.