Amravati (Maharashtra): Deeply afflicted by the sky-high electricity bill sent to her, a 55-year-old woman from Maharashtra's Amravati has questioned the government whether she should use her meagre income for survival or to pay the exorbitant bill.
Godabai Dobre, a resident of Annabhau Sathe in Badnera near Amravati, has only three to four electronic devices in her house, but was shocked when she received an electricity bill of Rs 29,000 for seven months.
Average monthly electricity bill of Godabai is Rs 4,114
Godabai Dobre lives with her small family in Badnera near Amravati city. Family members live in a two-room house with a fan, a TV, two or three lights and a couple of other electrical appliances.
Before the COVID lockdown, Godabai used to receive monthly electricity bills of around Rs 500-1,000. However, for the seven months of the lockdown, MSEDCL has managed to send them a huge electricity bill of Rs 28,800. MSEDCL has charged Godabai a bill of Rs 4,114 per month during the Coronavirus period.
With an income of Rs 1,000 and an electricity bill of over Rs 4,000, the math does not seem promising for Godabai.
Read: Fadnavis govt pushed state-run power company into crisis: NCP
However, it is not only Godabai alone who is in trouble due to the exorbitant bills, as thousands of citizens across the state are in the same condition. In such a situation, MSEDCL has shocked many by charging electricity bills worth thousands.
Crisis due to power outage before Diwali
MSEDCL has forced electricity consumers to pay up their pending electricity bills. Two days before Diwali, MSEDCL employees knocked on the door of Godabai and tried to cut off the power supply. But Godabai pleaded to the employees in a bid to ensure that her Diwali is not celebrated in darkness.
"I used to get Rs 2,000 a month for doing household work in four houses and would barely survive. But due to the coronavirus outbreak, I lost that job too. In the first three to four months of the outbreak, getting a meal was also difficult. Now, when I go to two places and do dishes, I get Rs 1,000 a month," Godabai said.
"Should I hang myself because of your bill? If we had been given a regular bill during the lockdown, we would have paid it," she told the employees.
No concrete decision at CM meeting
Many citizens across the state have been harassed by the sky-high bills sent to them during the lockdown. At the same time, an important meeting of the Thackeray government's cabinet was held on Thursday after agitations by the opposition BJP and the strong sentiments of the people against the electricity bill.
Read: 'Maharashtra govt realised it can't waive power bills'
However, ordinary consumers have not received any relief in electricity bills, as no decision was taken in the meeting regarding increased electricity bills. Therefore, the stress over MSEDCL's increased bill is still hovering over power consumers in the state.
Energy Minister's announcement to waive electricity bill a fail
Energy Minister Nitin Raut had earlier announced a waiver of electricity bills up to 100 units to give some relief to the people of the state. However, Raut has now made it clear that the government has taken a U-turn on his promise and it is not possible to give concessions in electricity bills.
"MSEDCL is also a customer. MSEDCL has to buy electricity from outside. Different types of charges have to be paid. MSEDCL's current arrears are 31 per cent. Payments are not made by customers. Therefore, it is impossible to give concessions. However, no one will be disconnected," Raut said.
Energy companies have a debt burden of Rs 69,000 crore. It is no longer possible to take a loan. The state government has taken a lot of efforts to provide relief to consumers in electricity bills. For this, he sought help from the central government. However, unfortunately, no help was received from the central government, Raut had said.
Read: AAP fooling people with free electricity promise: Goa CM
RTI activist Anil Galgali criticises energy minister
Energy Minister Nitin Raut had said that the government would give concessions on increased and erroneous bills during the Coronavirus period. But now, there is criticism from all quarters against the energy minister for saying that there will be no concession.
RTI activist Anil Galgali criticised Energy Minister Raut, and said that the government has money to spend on bungalows and offices but does not have the money to waive off electricity bills.
Anil Bonde's agitation in Amravati
In Amravati on Thursday, BJP leader Anil Bonde, staged a protest at the power department's head office. The BJP also demanded the immediate resignation of the energy minister.
