PANJIM: Power Minister Nilesh Cabral on Thursday warned that electricity connections of those who fail to clear the pending power dues by March 2020 would be disconnected. The dues, to be collected from government departments, private companies and individuals currently amount to Rs 382 crore.
The State Electricity Department has also initiated the process to file RRC (Revenue Recovery Certificate) cases against borrowers who fail to clear dues on repeated follow up and even after permanently discontinuing the connection.
Speaking to media persons, Cabral said the process has been initiated to recover over Rs 382 crore pending power dues from defaulting consumers. State government departments make up over 40 per cent of these dues.
“My target is that by March 2020, every defaulter has to pay the pending dues. Failure to do so will result ino disconnecting their connections. But I am confident that all arrears would be paid,” the Minister said. “I have also informed Chief Minister about the action,” he added.
Cabral said that whoever consumes power has to make the payment, which government in turn uses to purchase the required power. “Whether it is individual, government departments, corporations or private, whoever uses power has to pay,” he said.
As reported earlier, the Public Works Department (PWD) with outstanding dues of Rs 95 crore is the biggest defaulter. Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMC) has dues amounting to Rs 50 lakh.
Cabral also said that the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP), which had assured to make the first installment of Rs 1 crore towards municipal market power bill, has not done so. “CCP had given the letter that they will pay the amount in installment. We have to value the letter. First installment of Rs 1 crore was due on October 16. We have not received it till date,” he said.
The Minister said that if they do not to make payment, then the department would be forced to disconnect the power supply to the market. CCP is due to pay over Rs 5 crore pending since 2003.
Cabral said that following notices being issued, Police Department has made the payment, while PWD has paid a certain portion towards the Opa power plant.
He added that Electricity Department faced a loss of around Rs 8 to 10 crore during the monsoon.
