Despite default of electricity bills, a cement company in the State has got a breather as the power regulatory body has directed Meghalaya Power Distribution Corporation Limited (MeECL) not to disconnect electricity supply to the company.
The Meghalaya State Electricity Regulatory Commission (MSERC) has directed the MeECL not to disconnect electricity supply to JUD Cement for now.
The interim order was issued by MSERC last week during hearing of the plea filed by JUD Cement challenging the disconnection notice issued by MePDCL and also seeking stay of the operation of the notice.
During the hearing held on April 15, JUD Cement was represented by its managing director Adarsh Jhunjhunwala along with the lawyer of the company.
However, none from the MeECL turned up at the hearing or even filed any affidavit leading to a stay of the disconnection notice.
JUD Cement informed that Rs 17,23,78,980 has been paid been by the company to MePDCL against old pending power dues and a request has been made to MePDCL to allow payment of the current electricity bills from April 2020 to February 2021 amounting to Rs 69,46.554 in twelve equal installments from April 2021 along with the current bill from March 2021.
The MSERC has directed MePDCL to appear at the next hearing scheduled on April 27 and give its comments on the petition filed by JUD Cement.
Meanwhile, sources said that MePDCL did not attend the hearing as no specific date of appearance was given by MSERC in its notice for hearing.
“The usual practice in every court is that if a specific date is not given in the order, then separate notice is issued to the parties. But in this case, the practice was not adopted by the MSERC,” sources in MePDCL said.
