Kashmir Impulse Desk
Srinagar, Sep 22
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday opposed repeated blanket waivers of electricity dues, saying they could discourage timely payments and penalise consumers who regularly clear their bills.
Replying to a question in the legislative assembly, Abdullah, who holds the power portfolio, said the government was examining a proposal to reintroduce or extend an electricity amnesty scheme.
He said repeated waivers could create an expectation among consumers that unpaid bills would eventually be written off.
“Giving amnesty repeatedly is an injustice to those who pay bills on time,” Abdullah told lawmakers.
The chief minister said relief could nevertheless be considered for genuinely vulnerable consumers, including people below the poverty line who may lack the means to clear their dues.
The government has extended electricity amnesty schemes several times in the past, he said, but repeated blanket waivers should not encourage deliberate defaults.
Any decision on a fresh scheme would take into account its impact on consumers who pay their bills regularly, Abdullah said.
