*Power defaulters owe crores to PDD, put massive burden on department*
*Baba Jang, NHPC's Salal Hydroelectric project, PHE Sopore top the list*
Srinagar, Mar 13 : Government departments, industrial units, semi government organisations and private institutions owe hundreds of crores to the Power Development Department on the account of electricity dues, the. government informed the Legislative Assembly.
In response to a query by MLA Sheikh Khursheed, the government as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) revealed shocking figures, with defaulters collectively running up bills that have put a massive strain on the power sector.
Among the biggest defaulters, Baba Jang tops the list with an outstanding bill of Rs 63.78 crore, followed by Chief Engineer Salal Hydroelectric NHPC at Rs 56.96 crore. XEN PHE Sopore has dues amounting to Rs 45.84 crore, while Chief Mining Engineer J&K Minerals Ltd. owes Rs 42.43 crore.
Other notable defaulters include, Rajpora Lift Irrigation AWP Stage 1 & 2 – Rs 39.83 crore, Ex-Engineer PHE Mechanical Division Sopore – Rs 26.87 crore, Water Supply Scheme Tangnar – Rs 24.10 crore, Manager Jammu & Kashmir Cements Ltd. – Rs 22.49 crore, Lift Irrigation Lethpora Stage 1st – Rs 21.97 crore, Ex-Engineer PHE Mechanical Division Sopore (PR 96) – Rs 21.41 crore and others.
The Minister In-Charge of Power Development Department (PDD), according to the KNO, informed that 2,75,081 consumers have registered under the ongoing amnesty scheme, including 1,60,507 from Jammu and 1,14,574 from Kashmir.
The government has granted an amnesty scheme to consumers with pending bills, allowing them to clear dues in installments and get relief on interest and penalties, the Minister added—
