Examiner Bureau | Srinagar:
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said the government was working on extending the electricity bill amnesty scheme, while stressing that any extension must ensure fairness to consumers who have regularly paid their dues.
Replying to the issue in the Legislative Assembly, Omar said the government was examining ways to continue the amnesty for consumers who genuinely qualify for the relief.
He said denying the benefit to eligible consumers would be unfair, but extending the scheme also raised concerns about those who had consistently cleared their electricity bills on time.
“We are trying to extend the amnesty,” the Chief Minister said, while cautioning that repeated extensions could create an unintended incentive for consumers to delay payments in the expectation of future relief.
“If people start waiting for another amnesty, those who have been paying their bills regularly may ask why they should continue to do so,” he said.
Omar said the government was therefore considering the matter carefully, with the aim of providing relief to consumers who genuinely need it while ensuring that regular bill payers are not disadvantaged.
He said the government was seeking a balance between consumer relief, payment discipline and fairness as it examines the possibility of extending the scheme.
