JOIN USCorpn to attach discom's account
Even as power discom Tata Power stopped power supply to streetlights and parks in north Delhi areas for the second consecutive day, the North Corporation on Tuesday said it would initiate action against the discom for non-payment of property tax.
While power supply was disconnected in six colonies on Monday, supply was discontinued to around 20 key areas across north Delhi on Tuesday.
Calling the move as politically motivated, the North Delhi Municipal Corporation officials said property tax department may soon attach discom’s bank account and seal some of their properties for non-payment of the tax. Leader of the House Mahender Nagpal also shot off a complaint letter to police commissioner to take action against the discom.
“The power discom owes around Rs 19 crore as property tax to the North Corporation. If the company can disrupt public utility services, we will attach their account if they do not clear their property tax dues, ” said Yogendra Chandolia, standing committee chairman of North Corporation.
The civic agency has also decided to charge rent from the discom for using its land for installation of transformers and sub-stations. “The power discoms have installed transformers in several parks and on other plots of the corporation. We have already passed a resolution in the standing committee to charge rent as the power discoms are earning profits out of it,” Chandolia said.
Roads in six key areas — Civil Lines, Pitampura, Keshavpuram, Vijay Nagar, Rohini and Wazirpur — faced a total blackout on Monday evening after Tata Power disconnected electricity supply to streetlights.
Discom officials said action was taken against the corporation after it failed to clear two-year power bill arrears despite repeated warnings.
But according to corporation officials, the civic body owes around Rs 22.5 crore as arrears, while it has been paying a monthly bill of around Rs 8.5 crore.
“The arrears are because of the differences over the power bills which have been calculated at commercial rate. Providing streetlights is a civic amenity. The corporation is not earning anything out it. But still discom is generating bill at commercial rate,” said Chandolia.
North Corporation commissioner P K Gupta held a meeting with the Tata Power officials yesterday to resolve the issue. Chandolia said the corporation has also asked the power discom to install meters for all the streetlights which fall under its areas.
“Till now the bill is generated just by following the law of averages. A survey is done on how many streetlights are functional,” said Chandolia.
“By that process, it is difficult to assess whether all the lights are functional or not. Therfore, the corporation has now asked the power discom to install meters for billing as per the consumption,” Chandolia added.