Unpaid electricity bills owed by government departments in Chhattisgarh have crossed the three-thousand-crore-rupee mark, and the state's power distribution company has now begun taking tough action to recover the money. Several government offices are having their power supply disconnected as the crackdown gathers pace.
How big is the shortfall
According to figures up to June 2026, government departments across the state collectively owe ₹3035 crore and 37 lakh in electricity bills. The largest single share comes from the Urban Administration Department, which alone accounts for ₹1525.18 crore of the outstanding amount. The Panchayat and Rural Development Department follows close behind, with ₹1057.56 crore still to be cleared. In all, the state has 1,57,341 government electricity connections, and a significant number of these offices had gone without paying their dues for a long stretch of time.
Prepaid billing brings the crackdown to a head
From 1 August, the state government made prepaid electricity billing compulsory for all government offices at the block level and above, meaning these offices must now pay upfront before they get power. Alongside the rollout of this new system, the distribution company has also stepped up its drive to recover older pending dues, so that the backlog built up by these departments can finally be cleared.
Street lights and water tanks caught in the fallout
As part of the recovery drive, connections feeding water tanks, street lights and other public services run by municipal bodies have started being cut off. Some such connections have already been disconnected in the Bilaspur Municipal Corporation. The Housing Board, too, is being pressed to clear its outstanding payments before it faces the same fate.
Congress attacks the government, minister responds
Congress has hit out at the state government over the issue, arguing that ordinary citizens will end up bearing the brunt of the crackdown since essential services like street lighting and water supply could be hit. Minister Ram Vichar Netam responded by saying the government has already stated its position on the matter and that the departments concerned are well aware of the situation. He said
"If street lights, water supply and other public facilities get affected, the common man will ultimately have to pay the price for it."
It remains to be seen whether the departments manage to clear their dues within the given time, or whether the power company's action grows even tougher in the days ahead.
