Goa department snaps 4,000 connections

The Goa electricity department, in March, disconnected 1,223 connections of both domestic and commercial bill defaulters, some of whom have not cleared their dues for years. More than 60 per cent (748) of these connections were temporarily disconnected while the rest (475) have been permanently disconnected where the meters have also been disabled. Since January, the department has disconnected more than 4,300 such connections. The state-wide drive has raked in around Rs 1 billion into the department’s coffer. Directions have been issued by the chief electrical engineer to divisional offices to ensure that all arrears are recovered. After issuing notices to defaulters, the department gives consumers time to pay their arrears, failing which it disconnects power.