SLUM DWELLERS RAISE SERIOUS CONCERN OVER LEVY OF HIGHER ELECTRICITY BILLS
Bureau,Odishabarta
Bhubaneswar:Centre for Advocacy and Research (CFAR) working for the protection of the rights of slum dwellers organized a public hearing with the support of IGSSS, New Delhi on the levy of higher Electricity Bills by Central Electricity Supply Utility(CESU)from the slum dwellers in Bhubaneswar at Lohia Academy on 13th Feb.
Samir Ranjan Dash from CFAR welcomed all the participants and guests on the occasion. Mrs Rosalin Pattaik from CFAR shared the objective of the Public hearing and said, “The main objective of the Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana- Saubhagya is to provide electricity connections to all remaining un-electrified households in rural as well as urban areas and to achieve universal household electrification in the country. It also aims to provide free electricity to the venerable section of society. However, in spite benefiting the slum dwellers under the scheme the slum dwellers are being harassed due to the high amount of electricity Bills which is quite evident from the case study done in Kargilbasti Dauli Section and Kelasahi Unit-1 Section.”
In the public hearing, from the aggrieved slum dwellers side, Namita Patra, Santhosini Badtiya, Sajani Pradhan, Sajan Das, Puspadevi Saha, Sonia Debi, Siten Das, Reeta Devi, Kailasha Maharana alleged that the CESU is charging higher bills. They complained that when they want to pay part of the bills, the electricity officers are not allowing them and insisting to pay the entire amount at a time. Even many raised that in many cases paid amount is not deducted and reflected in the new bills etc. They also demanded free electricity to their houses under the SOBHAGYA scheme of the Central Govt.
Mr Sourahari Kar, General Secretary of AITUC, Odisha joining as one of the panelists in the PH put forth that “Electricity” is the basic need of the people and Govt. is responsible to provide electricity to all and it should not be privatized. He further said that, under the Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana, the Central Govt. has cheated the people and electricity supply should not be left on contractors.
Mr.Mahendra Parida, General Secretary AICCTU, Odisha joining in the Public hearing emphasized on the safety of the electricity consumer. He said “If misbehaved by the employees of electricity companies, the consumer should file FIR in the Consumer Court.” He further said,“When most of the electricity companies have failed to collect electricity bills from many big private companies and when Govt. has failed to take any action on them, it is unfortunate that the electricity companies are behind the poor slum dwellers.”
Mr Uma Charana Mishra, Retired Judge however opined that “Free electricity is a Political gimmick, and it should be stopped, no one should be given free electricity and Meter must be installed in every house.
After hearing the concern raised from the slum dwellers and the CSOs, representatives, officials from CESU shared their views. Basudev Panda, SDO from Kelasahi Unit-1 Section, said “We welcome the issues raised but the issue can only be amicably resolve when the slum dwellers consumer will come and discuss the matter with the appropriate authority and we are ready to resolve all their issues. Mr. Manas Ranjan Mohanty, Junior Engineer of Dauli Section said, “Those who have installed electricity Meter and have cross six months without payment, they should come to the office and we will favorably deal with them.” He urged the slum dwellers to approach the right person for the reddressal of their grievances. He further said, “if anyone has been misbehaved by any official, we will take appropriate action against them.”
At the end of the program, Banajyashana Parida, ORW from CFAR gave vote of thanks to all the participants and guest of the PH.
