BJP suspects ‘big scam’ in high electricity bills

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaOctober 15, 2020

The state BJP suspects a big scam in the high electricity bills slapped on the public both in urban and rural areas of the state.

In a statement on Thursday, BJP state vice president, Bernard N Marak said the party fears there’s a big scam and the high electricity bills are indirect tax imposed on the tribals by the authorities as the state cannot impose direct tax on tribals.

He also called upon the Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma, the Power Minister, James K Sangma and all elected leaders to immediately rectify this problem.

“BJP wants to bring to the notice of the Chief Minister and concerned MLAs including the Power Minister that the high electricity bill served to the public is one of the major issues which needs to be immediately rectified as the public are being forced to pay unjustified amounts every month,” Marak said.

Alleging that a new mechanism has been devised through the electricity bills to loot the public, he said people have no earning during lockdown and many have not received their dues, above that the high electricity bills slapped on the public both in urban and rural areas fails any justification.

“BJP wants good governance in the state and this issue is one of the major problems being faced by the public. This needs to be immediately looked into else concerned authorities and the Minister will be held responsible as we smell a big scam,” he said.

He said the tribal people are forced to pay the bills on threats of disconnection and legal action despite the constant power cuts and shut downs.

Marak further alleged that the bills are not prepared unit wise and the agents are serving the bills without checking the meters.

Stating that the issue of high electricity bill is an exploitation of the locals, he said the party fears that this is another corruption which BJP cannot ignore and stay mute to when people are exploited and made to suffer through threats.

The BJP leader also said the Chief Minister should address this issue immediately as the entire state is facing this problem and particularly his constituency Tura is the worst affected.

“On complaints, the only excuse the department gave is the defective meter boxes. How can all meters be defective? Are defective meters supplied in the entire state? Is that another scam?

Some people who used to pay Rs 250 received bills of thousands while others even touched lakh which is impossible to believe. Every alternate day there is a power cut and Saturdays are mostly power dry days due to shutdown in Garo Hills. Poor consumers are pained due to rampant corruption through indirect tax which needs to be rectified.

People use CFL or LED bulbs these days and rural folks don’t use fridge, rice cookers etc so how come the bills are high is the question asked by common men? Consumption of power should have been less as now there are various centrally sponsored schemes but it’s just the other way round,” he said.

The BJP leader also asked if there is some kind of deal with the companies collecting bills or is it the leaders who are imposing the extra rates.