Gypped by many builders, 3,000 families to lose electricity in Chembur

About 3,000 families in Chembur's Siddharth Colony could see their power connections snapped any time, with officials from Adani Electricity Mumbai Limited claiming that the residents haven't paid electricity dues running into Rs 100 crore. While the mutually decided deadline for payment of the dues is March 12, the residents say a few builders created the mess and they will agitate if their colony plunges into darkness. Adani officials say they have received not even 1 per cent of the outstanding amount pending since June 2019.

Home to 3,058 families, Siddharth Colony sits alongside the Eastern Express Highway. In 2004-05, many developers had approached the residents to redevelop the area under Slum Rehabilitation schemes. The residents were apparently assured that they would not need to pay their power bills as the builders would take care of those. Since then, almost 90 per cent of the residents have stopped paying bills, which continues till today.

The residents have apparently agreed to pay the dues from June 2019

Bhagwan Garud, 67, was born in the colony. Retired from Britannia Ltd., Garud lives with his wife and his son's family. "We have been cheated by builders and power companies. They have shown Rs 7 lakh as my outstanding dues and were sending monthly bills of Rs 15,000-Rs 16,000. After our meeting with the chief minister's secretary, my February bill has come down to just Rs 900. There is a huge discrepancy. We have become scapegoats for the builder and power company."

In 2018, Reliance Energy, the then service provider, had disconnected the power supply for three days after unpaid bills touched Rs 63 crore. Around 20,000 residents had gheraoed its office in protest. Finally, power was restored on the assurance of bill payment but nothing was paid till Adani took over the supply. Last August, Adani filed a police case against 12 residents after finding that they were allegedly stealing power. Adani said it lost Rs 4.86 lakh due to the alleged theft.

To end the deadlock over pending dues, representatives of the residents, Adani and the state government met on February 25. While the residents agreed to clear their dues within 15 days, Adani officials said they have received less than Rs 4 lakh against Rs 100 crore.

‘Left with no option'

It was agreed that the residents would clear their dues from June 2019 onwards and the builders would clear the rest of the amount. Post the meeting, Adani made it clear that electricity dues would have to be cleared by the residents. It was up to the residents if they wanted to arrange the money through the builders, Adani said. Officials from the power company said they are left with no option as the dues have remained unpaid.

Siddharth Colony in Chembur East sits alongside the Eastern Express Highway. Pics/Rajesh Gupta

The residents initially took the help of politicians but after there was no concrete solution, they formed a committee six years - Siddharth Colony Ghar Hakka Sangharsh Samiti. Lahoo Kamble, a Samiti leader, said, "During the meeting [Feb 25], we had agreed to pay the bills regularly, but the issue of outstanding bills is an eyewash. The company is adding interest and penalties on the pending dues. This wasn't decided. On Thursday, we conveyed to AEML [Adani] officials that we too will be left with no option but to agitate if disconnection happens."

Amit and Usha Hirwe live with their family in the colony. Amit, a real estate professional, said, "Last time they disconnected the power for more than a month. We had to spend nights with candles. Now exams are going on and some kids still have online classes. If disconnection happens again, we will suffer like anything. Usha added, "We have been patient for years. If a solution is not found this time, we will hit the streets to make our voices heard."

An Adani official, on the condition of anonymity, said, "We are trying to resolve the issue but nothing has helped till now. The deadline to pay the outstanding is also exhausting which will force us to start the process to disconnect the power."

"The whole issue started when various builders approached the residents and assured them of paying their power bills. Now if the arrears have crossed the Rs 100 crore, it's not the fault of the residents. We have tried every way to fight this out, but if still disconnection happens it will be an injustice to residents," said advocate Santosh Sanjkar, who is offering legal help to the residents.

Mar 12
Deadline to pay the power dues

3,058
No. of families in Siddharth Colony