Exorbitant electricity bills irk villagers

In almost all areas of Gawan block, villagers are irked over exorbitant electricity bills. On Saturday, villagers in many areas, including Kishanpur, Kahuwai, Kheshanro, Dhanasoti, made a ruckus and protested by raising slogans against the electricity department.

Villagers say that since 2016, electric transformers have run out of order in these areas. After the transformer was defunct, the villagers demanded several times from the department to get new transformers installed, but there was no hearing. Ultimately, they got their connections cut by giving written applications so that they do not have to pay electricity bills without using electricity.

But due to the negligence of the department, today after five years, the villagers have been handed over an electricity bill of Rs 35,000-40,000 even though they have not even used electricity.