MUMBAI: After hefty electricity bills, it’s excessive bills for cooking gas (piped natural gas) consumption in lockdown months. Mahanagar Gas Limited issued a statement on Monday that this was due to ‘average bills’ being given to consumers during lockdown months and the actual (high) bill being computed in December.
Residents though are up in arms. “This is not done. We cannot be asked to pay such a huge amount which is 2 to 3 times the normal consumption for a bi-monthly bill,” said Powai resident Dr Sanjay Sinvhal. Many others from Powai and around in Jogeshwari and Goregaon have received higher bills, sources said. The issue has been reported in Thane and Navi Mumbai, the sources added.
Another consumer, requesting anonymity, said their gas consumption has been normal, like in pre-Covid months. “No question of increased consumption during lockdown,” said the resident.
An MGL official said there were no meter readers sent residential sites in lockdown months. “It was only in October and November that we decided to send meter readers. Whatever reading was actual for the previous lockdown months was added to the bill,” the official said.
