MSEDCL’s Arrears Recovery Campaign! Rs 12,000 Crores Arrears Amount In Pune Division
Pune, 19th January 2023: At the end of December 2022, 12.5 lakh agricultural pump electricity consumers in the Pune regional division have arrears of Rs 12,061 crores. Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) has appealed to the farmers to pay the electricity bill immediately.
For the benefit of the farmers, the state government has prepared a new Agricultural Pump Policy 2020. Under that, those who pay dues till March 31, 2023, will get a 30 per cent discount on dues. Also, the amount of delay and interest will be completely waived. This policy is being implemented from January 2021 onwards. A 50 per cent discount was given from January 2021 to March 2022. Now 30 per cent discount will be given from April 2022 to March 31, 2023.
The highest consumption of electricity for agricultural pumps in the state is in the Pune, Sangli, Satara, Solapur, and Kolhapur districts of the Pune Regional Division. There are rich farmers in this area earning an income of lakhs of rupees. Farmers who use expensive four-wheelers, live in bungalows, and pay regular income tax but do not pay the MSEDCL’s electricity bills.
According to the officials, there is a large amount of electricity used for agricultural pumps in all these five districts and there are also a large number of prosperous farmers who use a lot of electricity for sugarcane, orchards, vegetables, and flower farming. Against this background, the electricity supply of those who do not pay the electricity bill will be cut off in the future.
The highest number of outstanding agricultural pump customers is in Solapur circle which is 3.68 lakh and the total arrears of overdue and current bills is Rs 5,338 crores. Compared to others, the Solapur division is top in arrears.
Meanwhile, in Sangli, 2.40 lakh agricultural pump customers have a total outstanding of Rs 1,576 crores. In Baramati, 1.88 lakh agricultural pump customers have an outstanding balance of Rs 2,379 crores. In Satara, 1.84 lakh agricultural pumps owe Rs 1,000 crore, in Kolhapur, 1.46 lakh agricultural pumps owe Rs 1,962 crore and in Pune Rural Mandal 1.20 lakh agricultural pumps owe Rs 1,138 crore.
