TOI Lucknow : UP MLAs rake up Rs 1.5cr electricity bill

UP MLAs rake up Rs 1.5cr electricity bill

Neha Shukla, TNN | Oct 5, 2013, 06.29 PM IST

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/UP-MLAs-rake-up-Rs-1-5cr-electricity-bill/articleshow/23589500.cms

LUCKNOW: Being the people's representatives, MLAs should lead by examples. In UP, however, the case is different. While the state has about Rs 15,000 crore due as electricity bills on numerous defaulters, MLAs are not behind.

About Rs 1.5 crore is due for payment as electricity charges on MLAs in the state. The government, however, played safe in responding to the RTI query about the magnitude of electricity charges due on MLAs and bureaucrats in the state.

Instead of revealing the names of the MLAs (as was desired in the query) who have not paid to the electricity department for the power consumption, the Public Works Department (PWD) only provided the addresses of the MLAs on whom the charges are due.

The amount is shown due against 17 'Vidhayak Niwas'. At the top is Vidhayak Niwas-5, housing 70-odd quarters, which has about Rs 79 lakh due for payment.

In addition, a huge amount has been shown as due against the houses in Mall Avenue. While one of the residence has more than Rs 15 lakh due for payment, another has Rs 12 lakh due against it.

The government has also not provided the list of bureaucrats against whom the electricity department has an amount due. "I will file an appeal because I sought amount due for each MLA and bureaucrat," said RTI seeker Sanjay Sharma.