PMC’s first duty for 23 newly merged villages: Clear Rs 4.27 crore in electricity bill dues

Within a fortnight after 23 new villages were merged in the civic limits of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), the civic body is faced with the financial impact of the merger as it has to pay Rs 4.27 crore to clear pending electricity bills of civic facilities in the newly merged areas. The PMC will have to pay up so as to avoid power cuts.

“The state government merged 23 new villages in the PMC and directed them to take over responsibilities of the areas, along with existing civic facilities. Most villages have not paid electricity bills for various civic facilities, and if these dues are not cleared then power supply will be discontinued causing inconvenience to the public,” said Hemant Rasane, chairperson of the standing committee of the PMC.

Civic facilities include streetlights, offices, schools and other structures that require power supply in these 23 villages.

“The process of taking over civic properties is on along with a transfer of power meters, under the PMC. It has, however, been found that many civic facilities have not paid electricity bills in these areas, and the amount pending is Rs 4.27 crore. The power utility has started to discontinue supply,” said Rasane, adding that the standing committee had approved for the dues to be cleared immediately.

Maximum pending amount of Rs 1.87 crore is from Wagholi, followed by Rs 71.90 lakh in Holkarwadi and Rs 66.41 lakh in Bavdhan Budhruk. There are no dues in Nanded, Sanasnagar and Manjari villages.

The ruling BJP has been demanding Rs 10,000 crore from the state government for the development of basic civic facilities in these villages, citing the need of proper roads, storm water drains, sewerage, water supply lines among others.

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