Maharashtra CM orders probe into rise in power bill arrears during BJP-led regime

MUMBAI: Targeting the former BJP-led government for “poor management” of the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (MSEDCL) leading to huge losses, energy minister Nitin Raut on Friday said that chief minister Uddhav Thackeray has ordered a probe into the exorbitant rise in power bill arrears.
Raut said that during the BJP-led regime in the state, the outstanding of MSEDCL as of March 2014 was nearly Rs 14,154 crore which, at the end of March 2020, had touched Rs 51,146 crore, a 261% jump. “There was a detailed discussion on this issue in the cabinet meeting on Thursday. The CM has directed that the rise in arrears be probed,” he said.
Refuting BJP’s claims that the companies of the energy department had performed well under the Devendra Fadnavis government, Raut claimed: “Their profits…gradually decreased under their watch.”
Raut added that despite the department struggling to stay afloat, the Maha Vikas Aghadi government has not shelved its plan to give 100 units of power for free to families below poverty line. “A committee had been formed to work out the modalities, but due to the lockdown and the huge outstanding due to the BJP-led government, the plan has been put on the back burner.