Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 09:
Despite the ultimatum issued by the Electricity Department that power line would be snapped if the outstanding power bill is Rs 500 or more, some of the biggest defaulters are Raj Bhavan and 47 Government departments.
According to highly placed sources the outstanding power bill owed by Raj Bhavan as on March 31 this year was Rs.8 lakhs and 60 thousand.
Altogether 47 government departments have run up a whooping due of Rs 13.5 crores as power tax during the same period.
The power tax of Raj Bhavan is to be borne by the PWD.
The department which owe whooping amount as power tax are, State Assembly-Rs 32,49,840; Police department-Rs 62,16,901; electricity Department-Rs 66 lakhs; central government departments-Rs 59 lakhs; semi Govt undertakings-Rs 2 crores and 67 lakhs.
The GAD is supposed to bear the power tax of the Government departments.
According to inside sources in the electricity department, the biggest defaulters are the generating division of Leimakhong Heavy Fuel Plant and Yaingangpokpi 132 KV sub station.
The office of the Power Chief Engineer owes a total of Rs.1, 21,661 lakhs.
Speaking to The Sangai Express at his office today, the Chief Engineer of the Electricity Department, Ng Tikendrajit said the outstanding due owed to the Electricity department by way of power tax as on March 31 this year was Rs 62,07,62,766 excluding Tamenglong district.62,07,62,766 excluding Tamenglong district.
The Chief Engineer further said that the State presently owes Rs 156 crores to NEEPCO, NHPC, and Power Grid Cooperation of India.
The State is borrowing power at the cost of Rs 70 crores in interest annually.
On the frequent load shedding and power cuts, Tikendrajit said that a MoU will soon be signed with the Ministry of Power to effect reforms in the power sector.
A Central Electricity Regulatory Commission for the state will soon be set up, he added.