Agartala: A significant financial strain has been revealed within Tripura’s power sector as a staggering number of consumers under the state government-run Tripura State Electricity Corporation (TSECL) have neglected to pay their electricity bills for several years, a top official disclosed.
The data indicates that out of approximately nine lakh power consumers in the state, a mere 4,32,045 individuals, predominantly residing in urban centers, are consistently paying their dues. This concerning trend has culminated in an enormous accumulation of unpaid electricity bills, currently standing at a staggering Rs 475 crore.
The situation is particularly dire in the state’s tribal regions, where a majority of consumers are reportedly bypassing bill payments despite numerous appeals from the power authority. This widespread non-compliance has been identified as a primary driver behind the burgeoning amount of outstanding dues, according to the government official.
Biswajit Bose, the Managing Director of TSECL, confirmed the alarming statistics, stating that only around 40 percent of the 9,27,838 consumers regularly pay their monthly energy bills, a figure that has only recently seen a slight increase to about 45 percent. He noted a stark contrast in payment behavior, with urban areas like Agartala showing satisfactory compliance, while tribal-dominated areas such as Tulashikar, Hezamara, Mungiakami, and Jatanbari present a “disastrous” scenario.
In response to the mounting crisis, TSECL is intensifying its efforts to recover the outstanding amount. Teams are actively engaging with consumers, urging them to settle their pending bills without delay. As a more stringent measure, the corporation has also initiated the disconnection of electricity supply to defaulting consumers in certain instances.
Furthermore, TSECL is actively combating the illegal practice of hooking onto main power lines, which is reportedly prevalent in tribal areas. Last year, over 10,000 such unauthorized connections were disconnected, and fines totaling up to Rs 3 crore were collected as part of efforts to streamline the power distribution system.
Despite these challenges, TSECL has assured that it will ensure a power supply of 372 MW during the peak summer months of June, July, and August, anticipating the increased electricity demand in the northeastern state.
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