Power connections of 20,350 consumers in Pune zone of the Maharashtra state electricity distribution company ltd (MSEDCL) were recently cut off due to non-payment of power bills. The total outstanding amount was Rs8.39 crore.
According to a press statement by MSEDCL after the move, 16,574 consumers paid their pending bills, totalling Rs6.69 crore, following which the power supply was restored.
The power utility has started a statewide campaign against power consumers in urban areas in domestic, commercial and industrial categories who have not paid bills. Along with regular squads, special teams of engineers and officers and employees of MSEDCL in Pune zone have been roped in for the campaign.
In Pune city power supply of 9,569 consumers in Bund Garden, Ahmednagar Road, Padmavati, Parvati and Rasta Peth electricity divisions were cut off. Similar action was taken against 5,370 consumers in Pimpri, Bhosari, Shivajinagar and Kothrud electricity divisions.
In Pune rural division, power supply of 5,411 consumers in Mulshi, Manchar and Rajgurunagar circles was snapped for pending bills.
Employees of MSEDCL — including chief engineer of Pune zone, Siddharth Nagtilak and superintending engineers Sudhir Wadodkar, Dilip Padalkar, Dattatraya Koli — participated in the drive for recovery of bills.
MSEDCL has appealed to consumers to pay up at the earliest or else face disconnection.