Maharashtra state electricity distribution has pending bills of Rs 89321 crore as of March 2024: Devendra Fadnavis

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], July 1 : Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Monday that the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company (Mahadiscom) is grappling with Rs 89,321 crore in pending electricity bills as of March 2024.
Devendra Fadnavis responded to the question posed by Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi through a written reply in Maharashtra assembly about pending power bills.
"Maharashtra state electricity distribution company ( Mahadiscom ) has pending bills of Rs 89321 Crore as of March 2024 by around 1.55 crore consumers. Out of this total pending amount Rs 58776 is of pending bills and Rs 30545 crore is the interest on pending bills," Fadnavis said through a written reply in Maharashtra assembly.
The Deputy Chief Minister highlighted that the pending bill payment stood at Rs 87,815 crore in December.
Fadnavis stressed the importance of regular bill payments stating that if there are significant overdue amounts, the power supply to the consumer is cut off in accordance with Article 56 of the Electricity Act.
"State government and discom officials encourage consumers to pay their bills regularly and in case of larger payment dues power supply to the consumer is disconnected as per article 56 of the Electricity Act. Those who have smaller amounts due. camps are organised for them to pay their pending electricity dues," Fadnavis said.
Earlier, after the Maharashtra government presented the state budget, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis praised Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Finance Minister Ajit Pawar and said that the budget has brought happiness for all the sections of the society.
Speaking with the reporters, Fadnavis said, "The budget is a gift to our sisters. We will be giving them Rs 1500 every month, free electricity will be supplied to farmers and three free gas cylinders will be provided. Before that, we gave 50 per cent concession to women in state transport."
He added, "The budget for all the sections of the society has brought happiness and I am very happy that the Chief Minister and finance Minister have brought a good budget."
Earlier today, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who also holds the finance portfolio, presented the state budget in the Assembly during the ongoing Monsoon Session and announced 'Mukhyanantri Majhi Ladki Bahin,' a scheme under which all women between 21 and 60 years old will be given Rs 1,500 per month. The scheme is inspired by Madhya Pradesh's Ladli Behna Yojana of the BJP government.
While presenting the budget, Ajit Pawar said, "We are announcing Mukhyanantri Majhi Ladki Bahin (CM My Beloved Sister). Under this, all women will be given Rs 1,500 per month. The scheme will be implemented from July 2024."Further, Ajit Pawar announced, "We will provide Rs 5,000 per hectare bonus to all farmers for their crops of cotton and soybean in Maharashtra...We will also give a 5 rupee per litre bonus to milk-producing farmers. Govt has increased the monetary help in deaths due to animal attacks, now the next of kin will get Rs 25 lakh instead of Rs 20 lakh earlier."
Under CM Anna Chhatra Yojana of the Maharashtra government, Pawar said, "We will give three free cylinders every year to all households."The monsoon session of the Maharashtra Assembly began on Thursday (June 28) and will go on till July 12. This is the last legislative session before the state assembly polls, which will be in the next four months.