Consumers miffed over receiving inflated power bills in Ganderbal

Ganderbal, Mar 15: The consumers from various parts of central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district complained they have received inflated power bills.

The consumers are up in arms against the Kashmir Power Development Corporation Limited (KPDCL) for hike in power tariff terming it injustice with them. The residents alleged that the department has failed to provide uninterrupted power supply to consumers; however they have now hiked the power tariff without considering the plight of the people. The consumers from both town and rural areas complained of inflated electricity bills. The consumers urged the concerned authorities to reconsider their decision on hiking the electricity tariff to provide some relief to them.

The residents of several areas in Ganderbal district including Gund, Kangan, Tulmulla and Ganderbal besides other areas of the district are angry with the Kashmir Power Development Corporation Limited (KPDCL) after receiving “inflated” electricity bills.

Scores of PDD consumers told Greater Kashmir they have received inflated power bills with a hike in power tariff from PDD. Consumers alleged that the department has unilaterally revised agreements and increased tariffs. They alleged that the department has sent power bills highly inflated.

Locals in Tulmulla on Friday staged a protest against the Power department for raising their power tariff. “Up to last month I used to pay bills of around Rs 400 only, however this month I have got a bill of 1500 Rs” Ghulam Mohammad Wagay, a resident of Tulmulla said.  He said that he is not the only consumer in the locality to have received the inflated bill. “Others too have received highly inflated bills.”

A senior official of the KPDCL in Ganderbal district told Greater Kashmir that anyone having any query should approach the concerned AEE office for the redressal. However, the official said that the agreement has been done as per the load assessment and electricity consumed by the people.