Srinagar: While the governments, that be, never miss a chance to accuse people of Jammu and Kashmir of power theft and not paying power tariffs regularly, the government itself has confessed that its own departments, including the PDD, besides the central government, are the biggest defaulters, owing the UT exchequer Rs. 4385.30 crore.
The Public Health Engineering Department (PHE) emerged as the biggest defaulter among Jammu and Kashmir government departments in power tariff payments, with outstanding dues of Rs 1,476.11 crore.
According to government data, the Irrigation and Flood Control Department (I&FC) follows with Rs 594.25 crore in outstanding power dues, while the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) owes Rs 344.30 crore.
The Home Department has Rs 297.93 crore in outstanding dues, followed by municipalities with Rs 262.75 crore, data shows.
The Army owes Rs 212.75 crore, while the Revenue and Relief Department has outstanding power dues of Rs 170.60 crore. The Housing and Urban Development Department has arrears of Rs 166.40 crore.
The Power Development Department itself has Rs 123.73 crore in outstanding dues, followed by the Health and Medical Education Department with Rs 100.19 crore.
Among other major defaulters, MES owes Rs 89.50 crore, JK Cements Rs 59.57 crore and the Tourism Department Rs 57.90 crore.
The department-wise figures were provided by the government in response to Sajad Lone’s question in the Assembly. The total outstanding power tariff against UT and Central Government departments stands at Rs 4,385.30 crore.
The PHE’s outstanding dues alone account for over one-third of the total amount listed in the government statement.
