Adani Electricity Mumbai Limited (AEML) starts removing meters at Siddharth Colony, aims to shut off 150 connections today
An AEML official removes a meter
The Adani Electricity Mumbai Limited (AEML) on Tuesday disconnected power supply of five consumers at Siddharth Colony, Chembur, and will file an FIR against four others for theft of electricity. They were accompanied by police and the Maharashtra Security Force. The company removed five meters at Siddharth Colony on Tuesday, but were interrupted by the protesting residents. An AEML official said they would return on Wednesday to continue taking action against the defaulters.
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Almost 90 per cent of the residents of the colony, home to 3,058 families, have not paid their power bills since 2004-2005, and owe the company about Rs 100 crore. However, the AEML asked them to pay their bills pending since June 2019, and gave them 15 days to make the payments, failing which it had warned of action. It gave a few more days and finally began the action on Tuesday. Sources from AEML said they are aiming to turn off 150 connections on Day 2 of the action.
“Four customers—Indubai Kamble, having total outstanding of Rs 8,96,547, Hirabai Gangurde (Rs 1,63,141) Ramchandra Waghmare (Rs 10,98,449) and Anant Kamble (Rs 2,41,510)--will be booked under Section 135 (theft of electricity) of The Electricity Act, 2003. An FIR will be filed against them at Deonar police station on Wednesday,” a highly placed source at AEML said.
AEML officials said these four customers’ meters were removed earlier, but they illegally established connection to the main power source in the building. Lahoo Kamble, head of Siddharth Colony Ghar Hakka Sangharsh Samiti, said, “People have started paying the dues now. The action by AEML is uncalled for and unnecessary. In fact, the company sent one mobile kiosk to pay the bills, and some paid about Rs 2 lakh on Sunday. We have also arranged a meeting on Wednesday with residents, and will urge them to pay the dues.”
“AEML has started taking action against customers from Siddharth Colony, as they had promised to pay their dues from June 2019 onwards which amounts to around Rs 16 crore, while total outstanding since 2004-05 is above Rs 100 crore. In the past 15 days, we have not received even 1 per cent of the outstanding amount,” said an AEML official. “We will continue the action tomorrow as well, and are planning to disconnect connections of 150 consumers,” he added.
mid-day, in its March 12, cited residents claiming that several developers in 2004-2005 approached the residents for redevelopment of the area, and told them that they won’t have to pay power bills. Almost 90 per cent of the residents have not paid their bills since then.
Rs 16 cr
Amount AEML asked the defaulters to pay
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