Goemkarponn desk
PORVORIM: Goa Forward Party (GFP) Chief Vijai Sardesai today grilled the Power Minister Sudin Dhavlikar over the failure to recover 643 arrears and purchase of power from Arunachal Pradesh.
Vijai during the question hour said that since 2022, the government has hiked the power tariff and the cumulative hike in the last three years is 10 per cent.
“It is learnt that total arrears pending is around 643cr of which 355 are state and central government departments,” said Vijai.
In reply to Vijai, Power Minister Sudin Dhavalikar said that the total arrears as of date is around 800cr of which 450cr is pending from the government department.
“Already moved a file to finance department for book transfer to recover the money. In case of balance Rs 350 cr, notices are been issued as they have not paid despite OTS,” Sudin said.
The minister also said that there are some steel companies who have gone to court against notices and disconnections. Vijai also said that several consumers have received a load increase notice failing which their power connection will be disconnected.
Fatorda MLA also said that they have been given 15 days time and requested that the time period be extended to one year to which the Minister replied saying that as per rule department can give them time of one month.
The minister said that the authorised personnel of the Department are authorised to inspect premises as per clause 5.142 of JERC Supply Code Regulations 2018 as per section 163 of the IE Act and it is a normal procedure to issue 15 days disconnection notices. However, consumers are given the flexibility to complete formalities of increase of load.
“Further, w.e.f Tariff Order of FY 2022-23 the JERC has changed the pattern of application of fixed charges from a ‘per connection’ basis to per KW of connected load for LT Consumers. In view of this, the Department has initiated action to avoid losses to the exchequer,” the minister said.
