Srinagar: In Jammu and Kashmir, the security forces owe over Rs 427 crore in electricity fees. The Indian Army, CRPF, BSF have failed to pay the electricity fee and the burden has to be borne directly by the common consumers.
In response to an RTI by human rights activist and journalist Mubashir Shuja, the administration said, "By the end of November last year, the security forces owed a total of Rs 427.37 crore in electricity fees. The Indian Army owes Rs 93.76 crore, the Border Security Force Rs 5.82 crore, the Central Reserve Police Force Rs 120.85 crore and the police Rs 206.94 crore."
The RTI reply further said, "Dozens of government departments also have arrears of about Rs 1,000 crore. Among these departments, the Agriculture Production Department has Rs 4.77 crore, the Animal and Sheep Husbandry Department has Rs 4.26 crore. The Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution owes Rs 61 lakh, the Culture Department Rs 18 lakh, the Education Department Rs 13.1 crore, the Election Department Rs 54 lakh and the Estates Department Rs 58.8 crore.
In addition, the finance department has Rs 1.66 crore, the fisheries department has Rs 1.48 crore, the floriculture department has Rs 2.30 crore, the forest department has Rs 6.19 crore, the general administration department has Rs 28 lakh and the geology and mining department has Rs 17 lakh."
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According to the document, the health and medical education department has Rs 75.42 crore, the higher education department has Rs 5.27 crore, the horticulture department has Rs 89 lakh, the housing and urban development department has Rs 106.36 crore. Information Department has 1.48 crore, Irrigation and Flood Control Department has the highest 415.56 crores, Jammu and Kashmir Cements has 18.28 crore, Jammu and Kashmir Projects Construction Corporation has 2.99 crore, Labor and Employment Department has 39 lakh, Law and Justice Department has 2.5 crore The Parliamentary Affairs Department owes Rs 2.53 crore, the Planning and Development Department Rs 1.25 crore and the Post and Telegraph Department owes Rs 3.11 crore.
When ETV Bharat contacted senior officials of the power department about this, no response was received from them so far. The story will be updated as soon as a response is received from them.
