In a bizarre development, a Hapur resident Shamim, a septuagenarian, has received an electricity bill for Rs 1,28,45,95,444 while his power load is merely 2 KiloWatt. The Power Department in Uttar Pradesh has given a stinging shock to the elderly man who has been told to pay the exorbitant bill in order to resume the connection.
Shamim, who stays with his wife in Chamri village in Hapur, said that his monthly electricity bill is around Rs 700 and Rs 800. When he approached the Electricity Department to rectify the error, he was told by officials to pay the bill or else the electricity will not be reconnected.
“No one listens to our pleas, how will we submit that amount? When we went to complain about it, we were told that they will not resume our electricity supply unless we pay the bill,” he said.
“But this time, the Electricity Department has given me the bill of the entire city,” he added.
His wife Nisha said the couple use only a fan and light inside their home. “We only use fan and light. How can the amount be so high? We are poor. How we will pay such a large amount,” she said.
Senior officials of the Power Department in Lucknow said that they were not aware of the matter and hence, could not comment. When told about the matter, they said it could be a technical glitch and would be rectified. Till then, Shamim and his family will live in darkness.
