One-time settlement scheme for defaulting power consumers

NT NETWORK
Posted on 2008-10-21
PANAJI- The government on Monday announced one-time settlement scheme for defaulting small power consumers, whose accumulated outstanding arrears were up to Rs 10,000 as on March 31, 2008. The scheme would be valid from November 1, 2008 to December 31, 2008.
Announcing the scheme on Monday afternoon, the Power Minister, Mr Aleixo Sequeira said the consumers failing to avail the benefit of the scheme would have to pay compound interest as delayed payment charges as per the rules even as he appealed to the defaulting consumers to avail the benefit by just paying the principal amount and settle their cases.
Mr Sequeira also said the scheme was fulfillment of government’s promise in the budget and that it would benefit about 5,800 consumers and could fetch the department around Rs 1.55 crore as 3,900 consumers whose power connections have been permanently cut owe the department Rs 95 lakh collectively while 1,900 consumers whose connection have been cut temporarily owe Rs 60 lakh.
The consumers who clear the outstanding arrears within three months would benefit from levy of 18 per cent interest, which would otherwise be applicable from the date the case was referred to the revenue court and till the recovery of outstanding amount.
The scheme would be applicable for defaulting consumers, LIG, domestic, agriculture, small commercial, LTP (Motive Power) such as small workshops, rice and flour mills, etc, whose installations were permanently disconnected but their cases were yet to be referred to the revenue recovery court.
The consumers would have to apply to the sub-divisional officer of the power department for availing the benefit of the scheme and the cases would be decided at the offices of sub-divisional officers and divisional officers where Lok Adalat-type sittings would be held to dispose of the cases. The scheme would not be applicable for commercial power consumers who owe much larger amount to the department, the minister said.
Later answering questions from the reporters on the issue of attack on social activists, Mr Aires Rodrigues and Mr Prajal Sakhardande, Mr Sequeira observed that the attack was condemnable and that one cannot take any other view on the same. Stating that the government also has condemned the attack, he denied that there were differences within it over the issue.
“Even the Home Minister has condemned the attack,” he said.
Asked to comment on the Monserrates going all out to save their son, the Congress leader said that given the similar circumstances he too would have tired to save his son if he too were involved in similar case, adding: “After all we can’t disown our children”. He, however, said that he was not saying that Rohit Monserrate had not done what he has been charged for.
Saying that the people involved in the issue were in funny situation, Mr Sequeira also said that he sympathised with the minor German girl who must be under tremendous pressure.