Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited (Tata Power-DDL) has decided to stop maintenanc  of 50,000 street lights installed in unauthorised areas over seven crores dues on North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NMC) and Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd. (DSIIDC).

The power discom has written to the Delhi Government to settle the dispute of ownership and pending payment for last one year. It also expressed its inability to maintain these street lights until its dues are cleared.

A senior official Tata Power-DDL said that the company spends Rs 68 lakhs per month on the maintenance of streetlights in unauthorized areas. The discom which distributes electricity to a populace of seven million people in North Delhi is following up for the payment of dues pertaining to maintenance of street lights installed in unauthorized areas in its licensed area of the NMC and DSIIDC.

Sanjay Banga, CEO, Tata Power-DDL said, ‘TATA Power-DDL always strives to give the best of services to its customers but in this case, non-payment of dues is severely hampering the regular maintenance of the streetlights and in such a scenario, we will not be able to maintain these streetlights any further. “I appeal to the Government to resolve the issue by directing both NMC and DSIIDC to release the payment at the earliest so that the safety and security of our consumers is not compromised with,” he said.

The official said that over the past year, the company has written several letters to the both the entities requesting them for the immediate release of payment but to no avail. He further added that Tata Power-DDL is continuously maintaining these street lights, without the payment of dues, in order to avoid the inconvenience and to ensure the safety and security of the general public.

“It is noteworthy here that, the maintenance of streetlights in unauthorized areas costs the company Rs 68 lakhs per month and the non-payment of dues has resulted in Rs seven crore arrears on the part of NMC and DSIIDC,” he said, adding that time and again, both NDMC and DSIIDC have denied the ownership of these street lights resulting in the accumulation of huge arrears.

The official further said that the company has also written to the Chief Secretary Delhi Government for his intervention, early resolution and immediate release of the payment.