Himachal MLA cries foul over his ₹6.78 lakh electricity bill
The recent monsoon session of the Himachal Vidhan Sabha, the state legislative assembly, witnessed a heated debate on a rather unusual issue – an inflated electricity bill. Nagrota Bagwan MLA Raghubir Singh Bali raised the issue of incorrect information being provided about his electricity bill, which was allegedly inflated to a staggering ₹6.78 lakh for a period of 14 months. However, a closer look at the bill reveals that the actual amount for 32 months was a mere ₹2.98 lakh.
Bali, a senior Congress MLA, demanded an explanation from the government on the matter, claiming that the inflated bill was a result of a conspiracy. He alleged that the Public Works Department (PWD) was involved in the scam and was trying to defraud him. Bali’s outburst was met with surprise and skepticism by the government, with Chief Minister Sukhu attributing the mistake to a simple error by the PWD department.
The controversy surrounding Bali’s electricity bill began when he received a bill from the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board (HPSEB) for ₹6.78 lakh for a period of 14 months. Bali was shocked to see the astronomical figure, which was far beyond his expectations. He initially thought that there must have been some mistake, and decided to investigate the matter further.
After conducting his own inquiry, Bali discovered that the actual amount for 32 months was only ₹2.98 lakh. This meant that the bill had been inflated by a staggering ₹3.80 lakh. Bali was outraged by the discovery and decided to raise the issue in the state legislative assembly.
During the monsoon session, Bali tabled a question in the assembly, seeking a clarification on the matter. He demanded to know how the mistake had occurred and why the government had failed to take any action against those responsible. Bali also accused the government of trying to cover up the scam and protect those involved.
Chief Minister Sukhu, however, attributed the mistake to a simple error by the PWD department. He claimed that the department had mistakenly calculated the bill and that the error had been carried forward. Sukhu assured the assembly that the matter was being investigated and that those responsible would be punished.
Bali, however, was not convinced by the Chief Minister’s explanation. He claimed that the mistake was not a simple error, but a deliberate attempt to defraud him. He alleged that the PWD department was involved in the scam and was trying to cover up the mistake. Bali also demanded an inquiry into the matter and sought action against those responsible.
The controversy has raised questions about the functioning of the PWD department and the accountability of government officials. It has also highlighted the need for greater transparency and accountability in the government’s dealings. The matter is still under investigation, and it remains to be seen what action will be taken against those responsible.
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