Nagpur: MSEDCL has disconnected over 15,700 defaulting consumers in Nagpur and Wardha districts and recovered Rs8 crore from them.
Some 13,435 consumers not only had to pay the arrears but also additional connection charges to get reconnected. These charges fetched Rs8.50 lakh for the discom. The drive was carried out with the help of linemen.
MSEDCL, which is in bad financial shape, had launched the disconnection drive two months ago. The drive will continue in December. Each linemen has been given the target of disconnecting four consumers per day. The junior engineers have fixed responsibility on linemen to ensure that arrears do not increase in the area of their jurisdiction.
Consumers owe over Rs36,000 crore to MSEDCL. Most of the defaulters are farmers, who are not ready to pay up. Disconnecting them leads to outcry. MSEDCL has therefore decided to concentrate on residential, commercial and industrial (RCI) consumers. Drives have been launched across the state to recover arrears.
The state government fearful of a backlash is not disconnecting farmers. It had first announced that those farmers who don't pay their bills by November 7 will be disconnected. The date was then postponed to November 15. When farmers refused to pay up, the date was postponed to November 30. Even now farmers are not being disconnected.
Some 13,435 consumers not only had to pay the arrears but also additional connection charges to get reconnected. These charges fetched Rs8.50 lakh for the discom. The drive was carried out with the help of linemen.
MSEDCL, which is in bad financial shape, had launched the disconnection drive two months ago. The drive will continue in December. Each linemen has been given the target of disconnecting four consumers per day. The junior engineers have fixed responsibility on linemen to ensure that arrears do not increase in the area of their jurisdiction.
Consumers owe over Rs36,000 crore to MSEDCL. Most of the defaulters are farmers, who are not ready to pay up. Disconnecting them leads to outcry. MSEDCL has therefore decided to concentrate on residential, commercial and industrial (RCI) consumers. Drives have been launched across the state to recover arrears.
The state government fearful of a backlash is not disconnecting farmers. It had first announced that those farmers who don't pay their bills by November 7 will be disconnected. The date was then postponed to November 15. When farmers refused to pay up, the date was postponed to November 30. Even now farmers are not being disconnected.
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