PANAJI
Amid power cuts creating havoc across many parts of Goa in the scorching heat, a baffling phenomenon has emerged wherein defaulting energy consumers including numerous government departments and their affiliated units are enjoying uninterrupted power supply by ignoring their mounting unpaid bills.
As per the government’s very own record compiled till the first quarter of the year, the extent is surprising as some departments owe amounts that run into lakhs while quite a few have accumulated thousands of rupees in arrears. The disconnection process has already been set in motion, yet these defaulting offices remain untouched by the consequences.
The irony of this situation is that many of these defaulters are units within the public works department and water resources, government educational institutions, civic bodies, excise department at its old location and a few taluka offices.
“Despite issuing notices and allowing them a proper time to pay the pending bills, these institutions are themselves disregarding their financial obligations. If the government departments have such an attitude, what can we expect from the general public? There is no way we can complain about other consumers,” lamented one of the officials in the department.
While the Electricity Department is currently facing substantial outstanding payments from 15,845 defaulting consumers, various sub-divisions of PWD, the Corporation of City of Panaji, and Sports Complex at Miramar among others have pending bills running in lakhs.
Official data reveals that CCP owes Rs 1,99,744, the Pharmacy College (Laboratory) in Panaji has an unsettled amount of Rs 3,40,834, Mahiti Ghar at Patto Rs 3,76,146, Sports Complex Miramar Rs 1,60,418, Goa Human Rights Commission Rs 1,40,913 and more. The process of disconnection has been initiated.
Goa Meat Complex in Panaji has been officially declared a ‘defaulter’ as it owes Rs 43,650 to the Electricity Department.
Even more alarming is the fact that some of these offices have relocated and the arrears continue to accumulate.
In addition to these outstaying payments, there are also instances wherein relatively smaller amounts have remained unpaid.
