Discoms launch a special drive to collect dues from industries in Andhra Pradesh – EQ Mag Pro
AMARAVATI: Struggling with financial crisis, the power distribution companies have launched a special drive to pool up long-pending dues from the industries in the state.
Three discoms have identified about 1,100 industries that have not cleared over 500 crore dues for the past six months. The discoms have issued notices to the firms threatening to disconnect the supplies if the dues are not cleared.
Sources said the state government has directed the power utilities to set their focus on collection of revenues from all categories. The government has also asked the utilities to constitute special teams to exclusively look after the revenue collections.
Sources said three special teams have been constituted in each of the three discoms to collect the dues from the industrial houses. The industries, which have been struggling with many issues, ranging from shortage of labour and production to sales, for the past two years, are reported to have requested the discoms to grant them additional time to clear the dues.
However, the discoms are reported to have made it clear that they are unable to grant any additional time to clear the dues as they too are facing troubles in clearing the dues to the power generation firms and the Centre. The mounting debts are also a reason for discoms chasing down those who were not clearing the dues.
Sources said industries from the Rayalaseema region needed to clear over 200 crore to the Southern Power Distribution Company Limited (SPDCL). While the Eastern Power Distribution Company Limited (EPDCL) has to get around 76 crore, the Southern Power Distribution Limited (SPDCL) has to collect 77 crore.
Sources also said that cases are pending in different courts with regard to the dues to the tune of about 150 crore. The discoms are believed to have urged the energy department to appoint a special legal officer to fast track the cases in order to bring the long-pending cases to a logical end.
Source: PTI
