Handwara, Jul 29: A village wide electricity disconnection in Gonipora area of Handwara over unpaid power bills has triggered a controversy, with Langate MLA Sheikh Khursheed accusing the Power Development Department of penalising consumers who had already cleared their dues.
The department disconnected electricity to the village after finding that a large number of consumers had pending bills.
The MLA said the action unfairly affected genuine consumers who had regularly paid their electricity bills. He said the department should have disconnected only the defaulting connections instead of cutting power to the entire village.
Khursheed also alleged selective enforcement of the recovery drive. He claimed that a Fisheries Rest House, occupied by BJP affiliate Javed Qureshi, had electricity dues of around Rs 5 lakh, yet its power connection had not initially been disconnected.
He said he was not defending defaulters but maintained that the same rules should apply to everyone. He termed the village wide disconnection a case of collective punishment.
Executive Engineer, PDD Division Handwara, Er. Asif Khan, said the department acted on official directions to disconnect power in areas where nearly 80 percent of consumers had outstanding dues.
He said that after the MLA raised the issue, electricity was restored to consumers who had already paid their bills through an alternative arrangement.
“The grievance was addressed immediately and power was restored to bill paying consumers,” Khan said.
He added that after verification, the electricity connection to the Fisheries Rest House was also disconnected due to pending dues.
