Mubashir Naik
A poor farmer from one of the remotest border villages of Mendhar sub-division in Poonch district received a rude shock when the Power Development Department (PDD) sent him Rs 10-crore electricity bill for the month of May, 2020.
Ironically, electricity in this border belt of Poonch district is a luxury.
“Uninterrupted power supply in this belt is still a distant dream,” said Nadeem Khan, a local activist.
“One month electricity bill worth Rs 10 crore is really a shock for the poor farmer,” he added. Mohammed Hanief of Gugran village was sent the bill from the office of the AEE, PDD Sub-Division Mendhar, two days ago.
The bill generated against Consumer ID 0107040013753 is for the period of one month from May 1, 2020 to May 31, 2020. The exact amount mentioned in the bill is Rs 10,08,38,138.00.
After receiving the bill, Hanief approached the sarpanch and the latter brought the matter into the notice of the authorities concerned.
However, within no time the Rs 10-crore bill got viral on the social media.
Sarpanch along with the villagers approached Mendhar tehsildar and the PDD office as well.
Senior PDD officials claimed that it was a computer error.