From Our Correspondent
Baghmara, July 8: Angry residents of Wagesik and Malikona, Baghmara in South Garo Hills have decided to approach the consumer court if the concerned department fails to restore electricity in the villages which has been living in the dark for over a week, after the transformers of the two villages broke down.
Following the transformer breaking down, the MeECL once again resorted to its tactic of seeking clearance of past dues from consumers, leaving them in the lurch and sweating in the summer heat.
The residents have also approached the district deputy commissioner on the matter, however attempts to contact the department remained fruitless.
Regular paying customers of MeECL, who have all had their dues cleared and up to date, have now questioned the tactic, that actually looks to punish even those who are clear for what is evidently laziness by the department in doing their duty.
“The duty of the MeECL and its various departments is to provide electricity and seek clearance of the bills that are due to the department. However out of laziness or for reasons unknown, the department has not been seeking dues from defaulters. Now when the transformer is damaged, they are pressurizing us to clear all past dues before the transformer is restored,” said a consumer of Malikona on condition of anonymity.
Another questioned the tactic and why action has not been taken against defaulters and their lines cut so that dues do not get inflated over time.
“We wonder what has stopped them from serving notice to defaulters and disconnecting their lines. Why should we be punished for others not paying or the laziness of the department? This is seriously unethical and against best practices. Firstly we are suffering due to continued load shedding and now the little electricity we are supposed to get is snatched away from us in this manner. This makes no sense whatsoever,” added another consumer from Wagesik.
As per a Malikona resident, the department is seeking Rs 17.8 lakhs in dues from consumers of which about Rs 4 lakhs have already been paid.
“You just can’t club paying and non paying customers in the same boat and punish everyone. The department needed to do due diligence to recover dues or disconnect power for defaulters. This just seems like an act of laziness on behalf of the MeECL. I am sure nothing has stopped them from serving notice and collecting dues. Why wait until these reach beyond points where people can’t pay? It just makes no sense,” added another.