Odisha school shut for 10 months gets Rs 5.87 crore electricity bill

Cuttack: A government-run primary school in Odisha’s Cuttack district which remained closed for around 10 months due to the Covid-19 pandemic has shockingly received an electricity bill of whopping Rs 5.87 crore.

The bill issued to Sisua Project Upper Primary School under Kantapada block of the district has charged a mammoth Rs 5,87,12,580 (rebated amount) for electricity usage.

The date for availing the rebate was February 17, 2020 while the school was to pay Rs 5,92,82,212 after the due date.

Taken aback by the bill, the school authorities approached the local Tata Power Central Odisha Distribution Limited (TPCODL) office seeking clarification over the matter. The headmistress of the school has been told by the TPCODL employees to clear the dues or else electricity connection will be disconnected.

Chhabila Behera, SDO of Gopalpur Electrical Sub-Division, said the incident might have been a technical error in generation of the bill. The bill will be verified and required action will be taken, he added.

The power distribution company in a statement said, “TPCODL has not given any such bills. CESU had given such a bill in February, 2020 and also rectified it as it was a system error. The actual bill delivered by TPCODL was on 27th December, 2020 for Rs 48494.”