Daijiworld News Network - Puttur (GA)

Puttur, May 2: Puttur Town Municipality complex built with the help of ADB is virtually facing dark days.  The reason is simple.  MESCOM has cut power supply to the complex following the non-payment of electricity bill amounting upto Rs 70,000.

The complex built at total cost of Rs 1 crore houses 32 shops.  However, owing to the delay in ADB handing over the complex to the municipality shops were empty for long.  However, the power supply was on for the complex and MESCOM was charging the minimum charge to the town municipality.  However, once the complex was handed over to the town municipality, 22 shops have been opened in the complex.  Accordinlgy 14 shops are still empty.

The major problem has been that the entire complex has only one electric metre.  The municipality has not yet showed any interest in putting electric metre to each shop.  The same metre is being used for the flower market which is close to the complex.  So it is not yet sure as what is the exact amount to be paid by each shopkeeper.

Recently at a meeting of the shopkeepers, MESCOM and town municipality officials it was decided that the shopkeepers should pay the electricity bill as per the number of power points in their shops.  With this, the shopkeepers paid the bill.   However, the earlier bills amounting to Rs 70,000 are still pending. 

Having taken this seriously, MESCOM has now disconnected the power supply to the entire complex.  On the other hand it is learnt that the municipality has to pay about Rs 75 lac to MESCOM towards the pending bills for street lights, water supply etc.

Right now MESCOM has only disconnected the power supply to the complex.  If however, it takes action against the pending bills towards the street lights and other things, then the entire town will be under the darkness.