Govt depts owe Rs 605 crore as power bills to PDD

Govt depts owe Rs 605 crore as power bills to PDD
Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Jammu, March 31
Despite the fact that the state government is suffering huge losses in the power sector, most of the government departments have not paid electricity bills for a long time. Various government departments in the state owe a whopping Rs 605 crore for unpaid electricity bills to the Power Development Department (PDD).

In a written reply to a question in the Legislative Council today, Minister of State for Power Shabir Ahmad Khan said, “The unpaid power bills as on January 2011 stood at Rs 1,024.02 crore and out of these the government departments have to pay Rs 605.06 crore”.

He added that the industry sector was to pay Rs 55.01 crore, while domestic sector Rs 216.14 crore and the agriculture sector owed Rs 147.81 crore for electricity consumed.

The minister also mentioned in the reply that the state suffered 63.04 per cent transmission and distribution losses during 2009-10, which was around 30 per cent at the national level.

Providing more details, he said in 2009-10 the state had purchased 8,274.31 MW from other states and the Centre, while 3,448.36 MW was produced in the state during the period.

During discussion on another question during Question Hour, the minister said, “The government has fixed power revenue targets of Rs 1,422.61 crore for year 2010-11”.

Replying to a question by Congress legislator Naresh Gupta, he said, “The government is committed to providing 100 per cent electricity to the metered areas in the state. If anywhere some work needs to be done, steps will be taken in this regard”.

The minister said the power consumption in the state was too high and hence the department was imposing power cuts for 8-9 hours in the un-metered or partially metered areas.