After Kolkata residents, now Bengal Power Minister Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay complains of huge electricity bill
Kolkata/IBNS: After complaints of inflated electricity bills by an overwhelming number of Kolkata residents, West Bengal Power Minister Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay on Thursday claimed to have received an exorbitant bill from the privately-run power utility CESC.
Electricity in the capital city of West Bengal and its adjoining urban areas of Howrah is provided by Calcutta Electric Supply Corporation (CESC), a flagship company of the RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group, which is engaged in the generation and distribution of electricity across approximately 570 sq km area.
Chattopadhyay, who reportedly claimed to have received a bill of Rs. 11,000 in the current month, said, "Lots of people are coming to me complaining of an exorbitant amount of electricity bill. I had earlier held discussions with CESC officials but that yielded no result.
"I have met the officials and they have cited the reasons for such bills. I have asked CESC to give an explanation for such bills by giving advertisements in all newspapers."
"I have directed CESC to explain the method of calculating the bills. If people get satisfied, I have nothing to say. If people continue to agitate even after the explanation, I will definitely summon CESC officials again and ask the reason behind the commoners' anger," the senior minister added.
Earlier in July, Bengali actor Tota Roy Choudhury had complained that he had received an electricity bill of Rs. 26,000, which was Rs. 21,000 more than his average monthly bill.
Dear @CESCLimited, I am sure this must be a genuine mistake but the 'shock' was overwhelming! Where my monthly average bill is Rs. 5000/ this month's bill is Rs. 26'000/+...!!! Please look into it. pic.twitter.com/JgrKceGFbn
— Tota Roy Choudhury (@tota_rc) July 7, 2020
The West Bengal government very recently had a faceoff with CESC as it had failed to restore electricity in large parts of Kolkata within a few days after super cyclone Amphan hit the state.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had also hinted at floating a competitor to CESC in providing electricity in the city if there remains any scope.
Besides Kolkata, CESC provides electricity to parts of Howrah, Hooghly, North 24 Pargana and South 24 Pargana.
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