Farmers' bills not adjusted in Satna block, says Govt.

Bhopal, Feb 22(UNI) The Madhya Pradesh government today admitted in the Assembly that the energy bills of farmers in Madhavgarh area of Satna district had not been adjusted against waiver of bills for three years from 2001 as the records had been lost due to floods.

Replying to the call attention notice on the issue moved by Mr Ajay Singh (Congress), Energy Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya said adjustment of arrears would be completed in two months after procuring the details of payment from farmers themselves and from the State Electricity Board head office.

''Problem was being faced in adjusting the arrears due to non-availability of records,'' he said and denied that the SEB employees had misbehaved with the farmers. No recovery will be made from the farmers for two months, he added.

Mr Vijayvargiya said entire bill amount of farmers having irrigation pumps up to 5 HP had been waived from January, 2001 to December, 2003 and payment made during the period would be adjusted in subsequent bills.

UNI SP RL DS1606