PDD shocker for Zafran Colony, Pantha Chowk Residents, bills upto Rs 4500 slapped on consumers

Srinagar : The Power Development Department (PDD) Kashmir has come up with a monthly shocker for the residents as power bills ranging from Rs 3500 to Rs 4500 have been shot to consumers for the month of December.

Irate locals of Zacran Colony and Pantha Chowk told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that they were surprised to see the exaggerated bills of December month. “We checked the bills online and it shows Rs 2760 as the opening balance and 1048 as the bill and I total the December bill has been shown as Rs 3808. We were the first to see installation of cables and there is no chance of hooking, ” said Adil Bashir, resident of Zafran Colony. “This is total injustice to us as I can’t afford to pay Rs 4000 power bill monthly when I haven’t used electricity upto this amount. “

For Lateef Ahmed, another consumer, the December bill is Rs 3500. “This is the first time I have received a bill that shows Rs 3500 outstanding. Units consumed shows 318 but bill is Rs 3500,” Lateef said and sought the immediate attention of PDD Chief Engineer and AEE Pantha Chowk.

Similarly, hundreds of consumers narrated the same tale. “We can see the opening of Rs 2760 shown to all consumers, reasons best known to PDD officials, ” said Sajad Ahmed, another frustrated consumer.

Pertinently, Zafran Colony is fully metered and cabling stands done four months ago while its adjoining area Achanambal is metered buy cabling is yet to be done. “We urge the PDD department to clear the confusion and end the disparity. We requested AEE Pantha Chowk and Chief Engineer PDD Kashmir to clarify what this “opening balance” amount was all about?” asked elderly Ghulam Qadir.

The locals of Zafran Colony also appealed LG Manoj Sinha to intervene and direct the PDD officials to end the disparity. “How is hooking possible when there proper cables in our area,” they asked.