The Central Electricity Supply Utility (Cesu) would launch a power supply disconnection drive in households at as many as 11,397 villages under its jurisdiction over unpaid bills.
Cesu CEO Arun Bothra told reporters here on Thursday that 413 squads have been formed to carry out the drive in 20 divisions starting from January 16.
He informed that 1.1 lakh consumers have paid arrears amounting to Rs 21 crore of Rs 1,971 pending bills till January 5.
The Cesu started distribution of disconnection notices from December 20 last. The deadline for serving the notices is Friday (January 10). Disconnection notices were served to 8,36,269 domestic consumers for Rs 1,251.35 crore whereas 59,190 commercial consumers got the notices for Rs 243 crore, Bothra said.
Besides, the Government has decided to make all the departments arrear-free in the current financial year. The departments would be asked to clear all dues on a monthly basis through online payment (IFMS) from next financial year, he said.
A release issued by CESU said that for arrear amounts up to and equal to Rs 25,000, consumers would have to pay 30% as down payment. Another maximum three instalments would be given to them by Junior Managers or SDOs for payment of rest of the amount.
Arrear amounts Rs 25,000 and Rs 50,000: 30% as down payment followed by another maximum six instalments would be given by SDOs, the release added.
On the other hand, Samajwadi Party State president Rabi Behera urged the Cesu authorities to extend the deadline of bill payment from January 15 to March 31 “in the larger interest” of the consumers.
