KARIMNAGAR: The district collectorate’s complex at Karimnagar is plunged in darkness. With non-payment of electricity bills of various government departments, the Northern Power Distribution Company Limited (NPDCL) authorities, after repeated notices, initiated action against the ‘defaulters’ and disconnected power supply.
For the past two days, in a phased manner, electricity officials disconnected power supply to several offices. By Wednesday, power supply was cut off to six departments. Moreover, supply was cut off to five more departments on Thursday.
On Thursday, power supply was disconnected to the offices of Deputy Director of Social Welfare, District Treasury Office, District Manager of Civil Supply, District Cooperative Department, Karimnagar Tehsildar Office. Similarly, power supply to three wings of Zilla Parishad were also disconnected. The three wings owe `4.64 lakh in electricity bills.
According to NPDCL authorities, about 18 departments hadn’t paid bills regularly and their pending dues amounted to Rs 3.27 crore. NPDCL Assistant Engineer of Bhagathnagar Sub-Station R Venkateshwar Rao told Express that they have been requesting the officers concerned to pay the bills but no department had come forward. “After disconnecting power supply to the treasury department, they paid Rs 6 lakh and we restored power supply on a temporary basis, Rao said. “Since the past few years, the default amount is piling up. When we put some pressure on the department head, they make a small payment,” an official said.