Panjim: To recover the outstanding power dues amounting to Rs 320 crore, the State government has introduced one-time settlement (OTS) scheme for the defaulting consumers with partial or full waiver on delay payment charges. Around Rs 92 crore, delayed payment, pending since last three to four decades, would be waived off.
The State Cabinet chaired by the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant granted its approval to the OTS scheme, which would be in force for a period of one-month, from the date the notification is issued. While withdrawing all the Revenue Recovery Cases (RRC) filed against the defaulters, the government has issued a final ultimatum to the consumers to pay the dues, failing which their power connections would be discontinued.
Addressing media persons post the cabinet meeting, the Power Minister Nilesh Cabral said that defaulting consumers can clear their pending dues via an online mode, by visiting the official website of the department.
“Under the scheme, if the consumer pays the entire principal amount, then he or she will get 100% waiver in delay payment charges. If the consumer wants to pay the principal amount in installments, then the waiver on delay payment will vary from 20% to 80%, based on the total installment, he or she opts for,” Cabral explained.
He added that a total of Rs 413 crore, including Rs 320 crore principal amount and Rs 92 crore delay payment charges, is outstanding from various power consumers including domestic, commercial and industrial. This also includes the Corporation of the City of Panaji, who is due to pay an amount of Rs 5 crore.
“Through this scheme, we are giving people a final opportunity to clear their dues, which are pending for last 35-40 years. We have already withdrawn the RRC filed against the defaulters. If still, the defaulters fail to pay then we will take action and disconnect their power connections. Then, the people should not question the government for action,” Cabral said.
He added that the Government will soon be coming with a policy decision, wherein the Heads of each government department, would be given quasi-judicial powers, to ensure that RRC are settled.
“We cannot give power free of cost. We are charging on an average Rs 1.40 per unit to the consumers whereas we pay Rs 4.80 per unit for purchase of power. Sometime, during the peak hours, we even pay Rs 14 per unit,” Cabral added.
Cabral said that the current power transmission loss is between 7-8% to 11% and that government is working to minimize it.