Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (MS)

Kundapur, Jan 5: Objections have been raised by the public against the  Mescom's action of sending notices to more than 700 consumers to pay their old bills which amount to Rs 16.5 lacs.

Separate charges were being levied for city and rural consumers long time back. Separate feeders were installed for Kodi area of Kundapur town municipality that was formed 50 years ago.

For consumers of Kodi area, who were under the limits of city, rural rates were applied and accordingly, electricity bill used to be charged. This difference came to light during the auditing of Mescom thus being forced to send notices to the city limit consumers of Kodi area to pay up their arrears.

Mescom has sent notices to 764 houses of Kodi city limits area to collect a whopping amount of Rs.16.5 lac. Consumers have been asked to pay up the  difference in bill amount of the last three years. While some have received Rs 92 additional bills, others have been asked to pay as high as Rs 3000 to 5000.

Consumers of the area are upset as people living in the Kodi area are mostly financially poor.

Deepak Kodi, a local said, “It is not right to penalise the consumers for the oversight that has occurred at the Mescom end. This is not the pending bill. This needs to be cancelled. We will appeal to energy minister Sunil Kumar and social welfare minister Kota Srinivas Poojary in this regard.”

Rakesh, executive engineer of Kundapur sub-division says, “Bill is sent only for the units consumed by the customers. As this amount is due to Mescom, they need to pay it up. We do not have the authority to cancel the same. Consumers can approach Mescom office for additional information.”