The poor functioning of the Uttarakhand Power Corporation limited (UPCl) is leaving hundreds of consumers in trouble. In Jardhar village, for instance, the villagers were forced to make rounds of the power department office as the staffers there were not taking readings from the meters. People from many other villages said their power line was being disconnected without warning.
The consumers were worried over the non-receipt of bills despite several complaints made to the department. The villagers — Vipin Jardhari and Makan Singh said they have not received the bills as the readings of their meters have not been taken for about four months now. They were under mental stress, wondering how much they would have to pay in single instalment. On the other hand, in Pata and Dobra, the consumers complained of their power supply being arbitrarily disconnected without any prior warning.
According to SDO Chamba SK Gautam, only in some parts of Jardhar village, meter reading was pending. It would soon be completed, he assured. He also claimed that March being the final month of the financial year, the power was cut off only after notice was given to the defaulters.