12 govt depts default on power bills in Sangrur

Sushil Goyal

Tribune News Service

Sangrur, December 26

As many as 12 government departments in the Sangrur circle owe Rs 8.48 crore electricity bills to Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL).

The Sangrur circle comprises five divisions, namely Sangrur, Sunam, Lehragagga, Dirba and Patran.

The Department of Public Health is the biggest defaulter of power bills. As on November 30, it owed Rs 4.65 crore to the power utility. Taking action against the department, authorities have disconnected power supply to several water works of the department.

Sources said government departments were not able to clear pending bills due to shortage of funds.

Either they do not have sufficient amount in their contingency funds or the state government was not releasing funds on time, they said.

As on November 30, the Punjab Police has not paid Rs 1.37 crore to the power corporation against the electricity bills. While government hospitals and dispensaries owe Rs 1.25 crore to the corporation, the Panchayati Raj has to clear dues of Rs 90 lakh. Tehsil complexes owe Rs 11 lakh and government schools and ITIs Rs 5.83 lakh.

The sources said as on November 30, the total pending amount towards various government departments was Rs 3 crore in the Sangrur division of the PSPCL, followed by Rs 2 crore (Patran division), Rs 1.45 crore (Lehragagga), Rs 1.22 crore (Dirba) and Rs 78 lakh (Sunam).