UPPCL bogged by Rs 2,000 cr dues

A whopping over Rs 2,000 crore is pending for realisation by the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) from defaulters, with most cases being sub-judice.

“UPPCL is making all out efforts to expedite the realisation of this amount with out-of-court settlements,” Corporation Chairman and Managing Director Navneet Sehgal said.

UPPCL is mulling tie-up with a bank for the payment of the pending dues and appoint district-wise independent agency to realise this amount.

Meanwhile, the corporation has decided to act tough against those tampering with power meters. “Till now, we were imposing monetary penalty on such persons, but now we will lodge FIRs against them, so that they are sent to jail,” he added. So far, over 8,000 FIRs have already been lodged.

Earlier, Sehgal inaugurated an Any Time Payment (ATP) machine in Lucknow on Sunday, which allows the power consumers to submit their bills with ease by way of cash/cheque, without having to stand in long queues.

“Nine more such machines will be installed in other areas of Lucknow under a pilot project to ease the bill payment mechanism of UPPCL,” Sehgal informed.

Later, such systems would also be installed in Noida and Ghaziabad in the first phase. The corporation is planning to install these hi-tech systems in all the urban areas of UP.

A private technology partner has installed these machines and will be paid Rs four per successful transaction by the UPPCL. “The maintenance of the equipment is the responsibility of the private partner,” he added.

“Soon these machines will also be linked with the payment gateway, which will also allow consumers to pay through credit/debit cards,” Sehgal said.