JK, Srinagar, Sept 22 (ITN): Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday informed the Legislative Assembly that the Jammu and Kashmir government is actively examining the possibility of reintroducing or extending the electricity bill amnesty scheme to provide relief to consumers struggling with outstanding dues.
Responding to a question during the ongoing session, the Chief Minister, who also holds the Power portfolio, stated that the Power Development Department is assessing the matter strictly on its merits. He indicated that while a blanket extension could encourage a culture of delayed payments, the government remains open to considering targeted relief for genuinely distressed or below-the-poverty-line (BPL) consumers.
Omar, however, underscored the critical need to strike a pragmatic balance between extending relief to financially vulnerable populations and safeguarding the interests of compliant consumers who have consistently discharged their electricity liabilities on time.
He maintained that while an amnesty mechanism is necessary to support families facing genuine financial hardships, repeated extensions risk undermining the sense of fairness among the public. The government, he assured, is closely evaluating the issue to address the needs of defaulters seeking an opportunity to clear their liabilities without disadvantaging regular taxpayers and rule-following citizens.
Report : Mansoor Qadir, J&K.
