Srinagar, Sep 24: PDP spokesperson Mohammad Iqbal Trumboo on Thursday urged the Jammu and Kashmir government to extend the electricity amnesty for domestic consumers and abolish interest on delayed bills, saying many people were struggling to pay dues because of uncertain incomes.
Trumboo said the government had initially intended to give consumers 12 months to clear outstanding dues, but the amnesty effectively lasted only six months.
“People’s demand was that we were not given the full time and they want an extension of this amnesty,” he said.
He said the amnesty did not waive electricity dues but only allowed consumers to pay outstanding amounts in instalments. “There is no electricity fee being waived,” Trumboo said, arguing that interest on delayed payments should instead be abolished.
Comparing consumer dues with delayed government payments to contractors and suppliers, he asked, “If the government does not pay interest to its suppliers on delayed payments, what right does the government have to collect interest when electricity fees are delayed?”
Trumboo also cited ₹4,500 crore in reported electricity dues pending against government departments and urged the government to extend similar relief to commercial establishments.
