Bandipora, Jan 16, KNT: Electricity consumers in Saderkoot Bala village of the Sonawari area in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district have raised serious concerns over alleged irregularities in the deposit and reflection of their electricity bill payments, accusing authorities of repeatedly marking them as defaulters despite timely payments.
Locals said that for the past three months they have been regularly depositing their electricity bills at the local branch of J&K Bank. However, the payments are allegedly not being reflected in the billing system of the Power Development Department, resulting in the same dues appearing again and again in subsequent bills.
Aggrieved consumers said the issue has caused financial stress, mental harassment and growing fear of electricity disconnections. According to them, each new bill continues to show previous dues even though they possess valid receipts as proof of payment.
“We have been paying our bills month after month without delay, yet the dues keep reappearing. It feels as if our payments have simply vanished,” said a local shopkeeper, adding that the threat of power disconnection continues despite consumers fulfilling their obligations.
Several other inhabitants shared similar experiences, stating that repeated visits to both the bank and the Power Development Department offices have yielded no results so far. “The system keeps showing us as defaulters. This is mentally disturbing and financially draining, especially for daily wage earners and small traders,” another consumer said.
Locals alleged that the amount collected by the bank was not properly transferred to the Power Development Department, raising serious questions about the handling of public money. Some residents even accused a bank staff member of misappropriating the deposited funds, demanding a thorough audit of transaction records, payment receipts and remittance details for the past three months.
The affected consumers have also sought clarity on accountability, questioning who would bear responsibility for late payment penalties, surcharge amounts or any power disconnections arising from what they termed an administrative failure.
When contacted, the Branch Manager of J&K Bank, Saderkoot Bala, declined to comment, saying he was not authorised to speak to the media.
However, J&K Bank Public Relations Officer Naseer Javaid acknowledged the seriousness of the issue and assured that the matter would be resolved within half an hour. He said strict action would be taken against anyone found responsible after proper verification. [KNT]
