AGARTALA, June 20 (TIWN): Tripura State Electricity Corporation (TSECL), a state government undertaking is facing tough time to clear the due bills amounting to Rs. 65 crore.The amount- Rs. 65 crore to be paid to NEEPCO till May 2013, according to sources in the TSECL. Of the total pending bills, the TSECL will have to pay Rs. 12 crore as late payment surcharge. As per the power purchasing agreement, if bill is paid to NEEPCO within two days of a particular month, the TSECL is supposed to get 2 percent discount on the amount. Sources said, the TSECL due to poor financial condition could not make any payment to the NEEPCO for long time accumulating the pending bill.

One percent discount is offered if the recipient organization paid the power bill within 30 day of a particular amount while 2 percent will be added with power bill if the pending amount is paid after 30 days of a particular month.

When contacted, a TSECL officer admitted, “The corporation is struggling to meet the day to day expenditure after abrupt hike in the gas price. Besides, the revenue generation is not at expected level despite various reasons. Of late, the authority of TSECL to take a special drive to collect pending bills from its consumers”.

He added, there is an urgent need to take some drastic steps to increase the revenue of the TSECL or else it will meet the same fate as Tripura Jute Mills Ltd is facing today.

According to him, the TSECL must revise its old power tariff ignoring the government compulsion of giving subsidy and bring professionalism in every steps of providing service to the consumers.