Ladakh Admin cracks down on govt departments for unpaid power bills

Clear outstanding dues by Sept 15 or face disconnection: LPDD

Jammu, September 6: The UT administration of Ladakh has taken strong note of the non-payment of electricity bills by all major government departments and installations in Leh district, with Ladakh Power Development Department (LPDD) asking the “defaulters” to clear their outstanding dues by September 15 or face imminent disconnections.
According to a recent circular issued by the Chief Engineer, Distribution, LPDD, Ladakh, all government departments and installations have turned out to be major bill defaulters by non-paying electricity bills as they alone owe the power development department dues of over Rs 30 crore in Leh district.
It was given out that the Secretary Power and NRE department Ladakh took an exception to the escalating liabilities caused due to non-payment of bills by all major government departments and installations in Leh district.
“During the recent LPDD review meeting, it was revealed that the LPDD had conducted a detailed assessment of the defaulting departments and installations. The findings indicate that the total electricity dues owed to the LPDD by these entities surpass Rs 30 crore. Thereafter, it has been decided that all the departments would be served notice to clear their dues by September 30 failing which the electricity connection will be disconnected without further notice,” sources said.
According to the official data, the Public Health Engineering (PHE) department has the highest liabilities of Rs 12.93 crore till July this year followed by Rs 4.92 crore for the Municipality, Rs 2.46 crore for the Mechanical Department, Rs 2.44 crore for Home Department and Rs 1.40 crore of Public Works Department.
“What to talk of domestic and commercial establishments in Ladakh, the electricity bills for major government buildings and installations, including the Leh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) complex and the Deputy Commissioner’s office, are running into several lakhs which remained unpaid,” sources said.
Pertinently, the LPDD is implementing the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) funded by the Ministry of Power. As per the guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) of the Scheme, the LPDD must clear 100 percent of dues from government departments, attached offices, local bodies, autonomous bodies, boards and corporations. The release of funds under the RDSS scheme has been linked with the criteria.
All the government officers have been directed to frame estimated energy consumption for their respective offices and accordingly, propose sufficient funds for electricity bills in the annual budget, so that no liabilities or areas are created.

Updated On 9/8/2024 12:44:38 AM