Residents of Siddharth Colony stated that redevelopers offered a commitment to them in 2005 that they would pay their electricity bills. Even though there has been no development on the reconstruction, the outstanding debt has grown to more than Rs 102 crore.
On Friday morning, the power supply to approximately 3,250 slum residences in Siddharth colony in Mumbai’s Chembur district was cut off owing to non-payment of utility bills since 2005. Located on the Eastern Express Highway, the slum is a blight on the city’s environment.
It was stated by the residents of Siddharth Colony that the redevelopers made commitments to them in 2005 that they would pay their power bills. According to an Adani Electricity official, there has been no development on the reconstruction, even though the company’s electricity bills have risen to more than Rs 102 crore.
Activists and protesters have slowed down the work of the electrical supply firm to collect past-due bills, states the spokesperson. Reliance Infra sold the business to the company that bought it. Since then, the company has taken a strong stance against power outages and unpaid bills.
Residents rushed to Chembur police station when the Adani Electricity Mumbai Limited team cut off the electricity supply at 8.30 a.m. on Friday. While the police called AEML, MP Rahul Shewale stepped in and sought a social restoration. At 5.30 pm, the electricity was restored to Siddharth Colony in Chembur.
“It is very bad to hear those locals of Siddharth Colony, Chembur thinks that they are entitled to electricity, after knowing that they have not paid their electricity bills for ages,” said an Adani Electricity officer.
“We had restored the power supply on social grounds, with the understanding that people would begin to pay. While these defaulting customers do not pay their debts, they also cause problems when our workers and partners go door to door to collect debts or properly disconnect power supplies from refusing consumers. Our employees are subjected to intolerance, insults, and threats. Many people who have lost their electricity have started to steal electricity because of the situation,” he added.
Published by: Diwakar Kumar
Edited by: Aaradhana Singh
