Pune: MNS threatens agitation if power companies cut supply of consumers over non-payment

Pune: MNS threatens agitation if power companies cut supply of consumers over non-payment

Pune: Threatening a 'MaNaSe' style agitation if power utility companies cut power supply of consumers over non-payment of bills, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) city unit has asked the Maharashtra government to immediately waive off the monthly power bills during the lockdown period.

The Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) has started issuing power bills after a gap of three months. Citizens are complaining of inflated bills, but the power companies are insisting that the bills are computer-generated and accurate. 

MSEDCL had stopped taking meter reading of their consumers since the lockdown was imposed in March. Bills were raised during the lockdown period based on the average consumption of each user. After relaxations were given, MSEDCL has asked their agency to send employees to take readings of meters of consumers. When the June month power bills were delivered, consumers were shocked to see the amount to be paid. Most of the consumers have received five to seven times the usual amount of monthly bill. 

Ajay Shinde, city unit president of MNS, said, "Employment opportunities have, and monthly incomes of most of the families have reduced during and after the lockdown. People are unable to meet their ends, and on the other side the government is asking them to pay inflated monthly power bills. The state government should immediately waive off the monthly bills of the lockdown period. Citizens should avoid paying the bills. If the power companies dare to cut the meter connection of consumers over non-payment of bills, MNS will take action against them."

MNS workers staged a protest on the inflated power bills issue at the Tilak Chowk near Alka Talkies on Monday afternoon. Prahlad Gavali, Prashant Mate, Rahul Gavali, Vikrant Amrale, Vasant Khutwad, Sunil Kadam, Abhishek Thite, Rakesh Kshirsagar, Dhananjay Dalvi, Rohan Ubhe, Manoj Thokal, Uday Gadkari, Akash Dhotre, Shekhar Bale and other party workers were present during the protests.  

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