The Urban Administration Department has expressed serious concern over the non-payment of electricity dues by different urban bodies in the State. The Urban Administration Department had paid Rs19 crore power bill dues of different urban bodies in February this year. Several urban bodies continued to default in payment of power bills worth several lakhs of rupees till now.
Urban Administration Director Rohit Yadav has written letters to all the commissioners of municipal corporation, and municipalities, and chief municipal officers of Nagar Panchayats directing them to pay their electricity dues regularly every month.In his letter, Yadav said the State Government allocates to meet the funding shortfall to the urban bodies on the basis of their statement of expenditure including towards salaries, wages, GPF, CPF, health, lTC, patrol , diesel, telephone, stationary and electricity etc.
As on December 2013, the the urban bodies had defaulted a payment of more than Rs13.34 lakh towards electricity dues for 2013-14. The rban Administration Directorate paid these dues on one installment.Since the Urban Administration Department has been allocating funds to urban bodies to meet the monthly shortfall, it was a matter of regret that they are still defaulting their power dues, officials stated.
He directed the officials to review the pending electricity dues and ensure that they are paid in time and they submit a report to the urban administration department, he said.