Patna: The Bihar electricity department is under scrutiny after it emerged that while small consumers are facing FIRs and threats of disconnection for unpaid bills, government departments owing crores of rupees are being treated with caution. The issue was discussed in a review meeting held at the electricity circle office in Ramdayalu, chaired by superintending engineer Pankaj Rajesh. Officials admitted that large electricity dues have remained unpaid for months in Muzaffarpur and neighbouring districts.
Data presented at the meeting showed that more than Rs 13.13 crore in electricity bills is outstanding in Muzaffarpur, Shivhar and Sitamarhi. A major share of this amount is owed by offices under the Panchayati Raj Department. Bills of Panchayat Bhawans, Panchayat Sarkar Bhawans and facilities linked to the Nal Jal Yojana have been pending for around six months. Despite the size of the arrears, departments have so far only received reminder letters, and no strong recovery action has been taken.
Electrical executive engineer (west) Mohd Sajid Hussain said the payment process from the Panchayati Raj Department is very slow. He has sent a detailed list of pending bills from 16 sections to the district panchayati raj officer, requesting early payment. According to officials, Rs 32.10 lakh is pending from office buildings and Panchayat Bhawans, while Rs 8.57 crore is due from the Nal Jal Yojana. The highest outstanding amount, Rs 2.47 crore, is from the Dhanaiya section alone.
Under departmental rules, electricity connections can be disconnected and FIRs can be lodged if dues exceed Rs 50,000. However, officials said cutting power to government offices could affect essential services such as drinking water supply. Because of this, action has been delayed, even as assurances of payment have been given. Meanwhile, private defaulters owing Rs 50,000 or more have been warned of strict action. In Muzaffarpur Urban-1, Rs 5.53 crore is pending from 91 consumers, while Muzaffarpur West has dues of Rs 3.13 crore from 278 consumers. Officials have now been instructed to recover outstanding bills from all areas.
