Goemkarponn desk
PORVORIM: The Electricity Department has started the process of temporarily disconnecting over 3,190 defaulters, including the Sports Department, numerous units under the Public Works and Water Resources Departments, the Corporation of the City of Panaji, and the Court of Civil Judge Senior Division & Chief Judicial Magistrate.
At least 70% of the outstanding bills, totalling approximately Rs 312.60 crores, are from government agencies, businesses, and local governments.
Information presented in the Assembly by Power Minister Ramkrishna Dhavalikar revealed that bills totalling between Rs 2.5 lakh and Rs 3.1 lakh, which is still outstanding, were created by lit staircases at St Inez and Altinho in addition to other beautification projects funded by the PWD and CCP.
Paradoxically, these defaulting offices continue to function normally even after the disconnection process has been started.
With arrears of Rs 4,33,234.07, Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation tops the list, while the PWD’s illuminated staircase in St. Inez owes roughly Rs 2.6 lakh.
The CCP-managed public garden at La Campala Colony owes Rs 3,32,129.01, and Lake View Colony in Miramar owes Rs 1,97,428.63. The CCP building itself has an outstanding bill of Rs 2,62,206.33. A section of the PWD-designated Miramar area owes the department Rs 2,03,800.84.
The amount owed to the Director of Health Services is Rs 1,16,113.57. The Court of Civil Judge Senior Division & CJM in Altinho has arrears of Rs 1,22,825.23, according to additional information. The PWD-accounting illuminated area near the Campal swimming pool owes Rs 5,06,248.37, while the CCP-accounting illumination beneath the new Mandovi Bridge owes Rs 9,19,188.27.
The minister claimed that the department, which is under the jurisdiction of the State Government, is unaffected by these enormous unpaid bills.
“Unpaid balances are subject to a 1.5 per cent monthly late payment fee, which is eventually reimbursed. The addition of such fees raises overall revenue for the department and eventually the government, even after a little delay, he stated.
