Concern over inflated electricity bills in Sohiong village

SHILLONG: The people of Rangshken, under Sohiong constituency have expressed concern over the rising electricity bills in the area which have hit the BPL families hard.
In a statement issued to the press on Sunday, the CSWO said that during a meeting in the village, the residents aired their concern over the increasing amount of bills since November which shot up from the usual of Rs 300-Rs 700 to thousands of rupees resulting in a heavy burden to BPL families among others.
The CSWO expressed surprise that “despite having only three bulbs” in their houses, the people were made to pay thousands of rupees as electricity bill.
The CSWO were informed by the people that the traditional heads met the Chairman of the MeECL who assured them to reduce the bill amounts but the commitment was short lived as the bills increased soon.
Again, six headmen of the area met an engineer, who was in charge of the Sohiong area, at Lumjingshai office of the MeECL.
According to the headmen, the official informed that assumptive meter readings noted in the past, without visiting the spot, by erring employees had resulted in hefty bills for the consumers.
“Currently the reading is being taken on the spot but you will all have to pay (for the past),” the engineer supposedly told the headmen.
The CSWO has urged the MeECL to address the matter to ensure people are not harassed for faults of the office. It may be mentioned that this is not the first time that consumers in the state have complianed of unreasonable bills.