Government agencies, departments owe Rs 5,059 crore in power dues

BENGALURU: The Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (Bescom), which is prompt in cutting power connections of citizens who have not paid their electricity bill for two months, seems to be going easy on government departments, which owe a whopping Rs 5,058 crore in power dues. And to top it, power supply is not even withdrawn.

Government agencies , including BBMP, BWSSB and some other departments, have arrears running into crores of rupees. Although funds are set aside for electricity charges, bills have not been paid due to the negligence of government officers.

The government offices includig BBMP, BWSSB and others owe Rs 5,058 crore due electricity bill.

The Bescom officers claimed that they pressured government offices and collected electricity dues as cutting power supply will cause inconvenience to citizens. The Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), the central government’s prepaid scheme, will be implemented. When this is brought in, government offices have to pay beforehand for power supply.

Nagaraj, General Manager, Bescom

“The BBMP, BWSSB and other government offices are public service offices and if we discontinue the electricity, it will affect the people. We try to collect the due through correspondence. The central government’s RDSS scheme has been proposed for implementation and government offices will have prepaid meters. If this scheme is implemented, the dues will decrease. We have collected Rs 682 crore so far and Rs 5,088 crore remains to be collected”, said Nagaraj, General Manager, Bescom.