State, Central deptts, security forces among PDD’s defaulters
TNN Bureau. Updated: 1/15/2018 1:15:29 AM
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PHE tops with Rs 1035 Cr of total Rs 1882 Cr outstanding
DEEPAK KHAJURIA
JAMMU: The Power Development Department (PDD)’s unpaid dues amounting up to Rs 1882 Cr across the state this year come from none other than the state and central government departments, the amount rising year after year due to non-payment of electric tariff by these defaulters.
Of the outstanding amount, Rs 1080.83 Crore stand outstanding in Jammu region while Rs 802.00 Crore is from Kashmir, the figures being latest by October 2017.
Out of the total Rs 1882.83 Crore, Public Health Engineering tops the chart with over half of the arrears pending against the department, running to Rs 1035.16 Crore.
The details in this regard were given during the ongoing budget session by Deputy Chief Minister, Dr Nirmal Singh, who is also the PDD minister.
Replying to query of Independent MLA Engineer Abdul Rashid, Singh informed that around 70 government departments including central government and security forces have not paid their electric tariff and arrears are still outstanding, running in Crores.
As per the details divulged by the Minister, Rs 1080.83 Crore stand outstanding as electric tariff from 70 government departments in Jammu region till October 2017.
The figures have seen a sharp incline against Rs 881.27 Cr in 2016-17 and Rs 627.22 Cr in 2015-16.
The above mentioned is the amount pending since Singh took over the Power Department.
Similarly in Kashmir region, the electric tariff of 46 departments pending runs to Rs 802.00 crore, whereas in year 2016-17 it was Rs 523.63 Cr and during 2015-16, it was Rs 378.96 Cr. Among these departments, the biggest defaulter department is PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control headed by BJP’s Minister Sham Choudhary.
Out of the total Rs 1882.83 Crore, PHE accounts for more than half of the arrears standing at whopping Rs 1035.16 Crore. In Kashmir region, PHE’s outstanding till October 2017 was Rs 463.78 Cr, while in Jammu its outstanding was Rs 571.38 Cr.
Among the defaulter departments, included are those headed by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti like Home and Planning; and Deputy CM himself like UDD. The security forces in state, including army, CRPF and BSF, are also among defaulters, their pending amount for the aforementioned period standing at 31.24 Cr and Rs 55.11 Cr, in Jammu region and Kashmir region, respectively.