Amnesty scheme to benefit 38 lakhs

The state government is coming up with an amnesty scheme for the defaulters of electricity bill. About 38 lakh defaulters across the state will benefit from the scheme. Currently, the state has disconnected electricity of the said number of defaulters and their outstanding bills are of Rs 5,400 crore.

However, the figures have baffled MSEDCL, as a huge number of people cannot stay without electricity.

“We wonder how the consumers whose connections have been cut off must be living without electricity. We are checking if they have got new connections with some other names or if there have been power thefts. These are 25 per cent of the people. Migration, temporary transits due to redevelopment in cities could be another reason. The Sanjeevani Scheme would give them a chance to get the supply back,” Chairman and MD of MSEDCL Sanjeev Kumar said.

Power theft is also high in the state and very few cases are registered against it.

“The defaulters can resume their power supply after paying the primary amount and the fine. The state has decided to waive off their interest,” an official from the MSEDCL said. All these defaulters have had their electricity supply severed for the last 25 years.