Over 20 Cr of outstanding consumer dues at APDCL Jorhat

Jorhat: The Jorhat Zone of Assam Power Distribution Corporation Limited (APDCL) has revealed on Thursday that they have an outstanding amount of over 20 crores consumer power dues. The General Manager of the Zone, Debajyoti Das further stated that in most cases, the large amounts of outstanding dues are from government-based institutions in Jorhat district which have not made payments for a long period of time.

Topping this list of outstanding dues is the government-owned Assam Tea Corporation Limited gardens in Jorhat district and the amount pending has been said to be about 13 crores. Next in line is the Public Health Engineering department and Jorhat Municipal Board (JMB) owing amounts to the tune of Rs 2.46 crore and Rs 21 lakhs respectively. Speaking of the amount receivable from the Urban Water Supply and Sewerage Board (Jorhat), GM Das disclosed that a total of 14 lakhs has been paid by the institution last month from the previous outstanding of 42 lakhs. Other major mentions of public institutions with outstanding dues in the Jorhat Zone include Dergaon- based Police Training College (quarters) in Golaghat district and Jorhat Development Authority Public Bus Terminus with arrears pending of about Rs 1.5 crores  and more than Rs 6 lakh respectively. 

The Jorhat Zone of APDCL has five Upper Assam districts including Golaghat, Jorhat, Majuli, Sivasagar and Charaideo under its jurisdiction. Moreover its Electric Circle is responsible for power distribution in the Majuli and Jorhat districts which have a total of 2.5 lakh consumers presently. Addressing newspersons in the Bijuli Bhawan yesterday, Das talked about the improvised operations of APDCL all throughout its circle even though factors like installing high-mast lights in public places last month could be detrimental towards the already outstanding power payments. Referring to the power demands which reached 65 MW and 42 MW in summers and winters respectively, he said that APDCL mostly succeeded in catering to these standards. 

In regards to the recent and frequent power cuts in Jorhat town, Das went on to clarify that it was due to maintenance and replacement-related activities taking place because of the construction of the Rail overbridge at Na-Ali. However, proper measures to inform people and keep them aware of the power cuts were duly taken by the authorities who used newspapers, mobile phone messages and loudspeakers in public places to create announcements. Notably, Robert Handique, AGM, Jorhat Electrical Division-I), Mukut Das, AGM, Rural Electrification), Kamala Kanta Pegu, AGM, Teok Electric Division) and Bubby Rajkhowa , AGM, HR, were present along with Das during the interaction. 

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