JAMMU, Sep 4: President of the Apni Party Trade Wing and Provincial Secretary Jammu and Kashmir Ajaz Kazmi has urged the Jammu and Kashmir administration to introduce a comprehensive one-time amnesty scheme for power consumers, keeping in view the prevailing inflation and the growing financial difficulties being faced by common households, traders, shopkeepers and small business establishments.
Kazmi said that the continuous rise in the cost of essential commodities and household expenses has placed considerable pressure on the purchasing capacity of people. In such circumstances, many consumers are finding it difficult to clear accumulated electricity dues despite being willing to regularise their accounts.
He appealed to the administration and the Power Development Department to consider a consumer-friendly amnesty scheme under which penalties, late-payment surcharges and other accumulated charges could be waived or substantially reduced, enabling consumers to deposit the principal amount of their outstanding bills in a time-bound manner.“The objective should not merely be recovery of arrears but also to provide an opportunity to genuine consumers to come out of the cycle of accumulated liabilities and become regular in payment of their electricity bills,” Kazmi said.
He maintained that electricity has become an essential requirement for every family, business and commercial establishment. With increasing expenses on food, education, healthcare, transportation and other necessities, a large section of society is struggling to manage its monthly budget. The situation is particularly difficult for small traders and shopkeepers whose businesses are already operating under considerable financial pressure.
Kazmi said that an amnesty scheme could benefit both consumers and the power department. While consumers would receive an opportunity to settle their old liabilities on easier terms, the department would be able to recover a substantial portion of its outstanding dues and improve revenue collection.
He suggested that the proposed scheme should have simple and transparent provisions, including waiver of late-payment penalties and surcharges, reasonable settlement of long-pending arrears, and the facility to pay eligible dues in instalments. Special consideration, he added, should be given to economically weaker households, small commercial establishments and consumers who have demonstrated a willingness to clear their dues.
The Apni Party leader also called for a review of cases where disputes over billing, defective meters or assessment issues have resulted in the accumulation of large outstanding amounts. Such genuine grievances, he said, should be examined through a time-bound mechanism so that consumers are not burdened with liabilities arising from unresolved billing disputes.
Kazmi further appealed to the government to ensure that consumers are given adequate awareness about any relief scheme and that the application process remains accessible at subdivision and receiving-station levels. Digital facilities may also be strengthened so that consumers can apply and make payments without having to make repeated visits to government offices.He stressed that a relief-oriented approach at this stage would strengthen public confidence and encourage greater compliance with electricity payment obligations.
“The government should adopt a humanitarian and practical approach towards consumers facing financial hardship. An amnesty scheme will provide immediate relief to people while simultaneously helping the department recover its pending revenue. It can therefore become a win-win initiative for both consumers and the administration,” Kazmi said.
Kazmi expressed hope that the concerned authorities would examine the demand sympathetically and announce a special power-bill amnesty scheme for Jammu and Kashmir at the earliest, particularly in view of the prevailing inflation and the financial challenges confronting ordinary citizens and the business community.