The government in Jammu and Kashmir needs to introspect before asking the common man to clear his or her pending electricity bills, as it is deeply troubling to note a growing trend within several government departments of not paying power bills regularly. The report in this context serves as an eye-opener for many sitting in prestigious official posts, shedding light on an issue that has persisted for far too long without adequate redressal.
What was once considered an exception—the non-payment of electricity dues by government departments—has unfortunately become the norm. This alarming trend not only exposes severe deficiencies in fiscal discipline and administrative accountability but also raises serious concerns about the financial management within public institutions. The failure of these departments to clear their outstanding electricity bills not only undermines the credibility of government institutions but also puts an unfair burden on power providers and, ultimately, on the taxpayers.
The irony is stark: while the government consistently urges the general public to pay their power dues on time and even goes to the extent of cutting off electricity connections of defaulters, it conveniently ignores the mounting dues of its own departments. This glaring hypocrisy paints a picture of selective enforcement where the common man is made to bear the brunt while government institutions continue to default without facing any consequences. When discussing the reasons for the power crisis in J&K, government officials are quick to point fingers at the public for not filling the coffers of Jammu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (JPDCL) and Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL). However, they rarely acknowledge the fact that some of the biggest defaulters are government entities themselves, which is nothing but a sheer display of duplicity.
A recent report has brought to light the extent of this issue, exposing the dismal state of government departments with regard to electricity bill payments. Alarmingly, in response to an unstarred question raised by AIP Member Sheikh Khursheed in the Legislative Assembly, the government disclosed that electricity bills amounting to over Rs 3517.90 crore are pending against the top hundred defaulters. Shockingly, the majority of these defaulters are key government departments, including PHE/ Jal Shakti, Irrigation, Tourism, and even the Police Department—institutions that should ideally set an example for financial responsibility.
The scenario is pathetic in both the Jammu and Kashmir divisions, necessitating immediate corrective measures. Before disconnecting the electricity supply of ordinary citizens who owe a few hundred or thousand rupees, the authorities must first cut the power connections of those government departments that have accumulated dues running into crores. Justice demands that action be taken against all defaulters without discrimination or prejudice.
The government must take responsibility and lead by example. It cannot continue to expect compliance from the common people while its own institutions flout financial obligations. Unless accountability is enforced at the highest levels, the power crisis in Jammu and Kashmir will remain unresolved, and public trust in governance will continue to erode.
