12 April,2015 08:25 AM IST | | Shashank Rao
MERC denies family of late Abdul Hussein Adamjee Peerbhoy, who developed infrastructure in Matheran, electricity bill waiver
Last month, the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) rejected Ali Akbar Adamjee Peerbhoy's petition on behalf of his family for 75 per cent concession on their electricity bills as compensation or royalty for his grandfather Abdul Hussein Adamjee Peerbhoy's devotion to the development of Matheran in the early 1900s.
Matheran was a barren land before late Abdul Hussein Adamjee Peerbhoy played an instrumental in the development of this hill station, which was a popular haunt of the Britishers to beat the summer's heat during the Raj.
According to Peerbhoy, his grandfather had spent Rs 1.39 lakh to develop the hill station and constructed 54 bungalows in the area. The family claims that they were also instrumental in constructing the Neral-Matheran railway line which cost R16 lakh in 1907.
"We want royalty or compensation as a fundamental right," said Peerbhoy. The MERC order stated: "Whether or not subsidy against such tariffs can or should be provided is to be decided by the state government. Action may be taken by Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited for recovery on account of non-payment of electricity bills, if any."
