The Jammu and Kashmir government has unveiled the identities of the top 100 electricity defaulters, including government departments, public sector units, and private entities, collectively owing over ₹1,000 crores in unpaid bills. This revelation was made in response to an unstarred question raised by Langate MLA Sheikh Khursheed in the legislative assembly, who sought transparency on pending dues and beneficiaries of the recently launched electricity amnesty scheme.
Among the highest defaulters is Baba Jangi, a consumer under Circle Ganderbal, with arrears amounting to ₹63.78 crores. Other major defaulters include the Chief Engineer of Salal Hydroelectric Project (NHPC) with ₹56.96 crores, the Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department in Sopore with ₹45.84 crores, and J&K Minerals Ltd with ₹42.43 crores. Government-linked entities, such as municipal councils, irrigation departments, and police lines, also feature prominently in the list.
The government’s amnesty scheme, designed to help consumers clear their dues by waiving penalties, has already attracted 2,75,081 participants, with 1,60,507 from Jammu and 1,14,574 from Kashmir. However, the full list of beneficiaries, which would require around 10,000 pages of records, remains largely unavailable.
MLA Khursheed has called for greater accountability, emphasizing that public funds should not be squandered and urging defaulters, particularly government bodies, to clear their dues to ensure fiscal stability and uninterrupted power supply. Critics, however, argue that repeated defaults by government entities are eroding public trust in the system. (KNS)
