{
  "type": "article",
  "title": "Chhattisgarh's unpaid government electricity dues cross ₹3035 crore as utility starts cutting connections",
  "summary": "Government departments in Chhattisgarh owe ₹3035.37 crore in unpaid electricity bills as of June 2026, prompting the state's power distribution company to start disconnecting supply to municipal bodies and other offices.",
  "content": "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.\n\nHow big is the shortfall\nAccording 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.\n\nPrepaid billing brings the crackdown to a head\nFrom 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.\n\nStreet lights and water tanks caught in the fallout\nAs 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.\n\nCongress attacks the government, minister responds\nCongress 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\n\n \"If street lights, water supply and other public facilities get affected, the common man will ultimately have to pay the price for it.\"\nIt 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.\n\nWhat this means for you\nThe biggest practical effect is that if government departments keep delaying payment, everyday public services like street lighting and water supply in the affected areas could be disrupted.\n\n• Across India: When government offices let electricity dues pile up for long periods, it puts financial strain on power distribution companies, and that pressure can eventually feed into the tariffs paid by ordinary consumers. Similar patterns of unpaid government dues have shown up in other states too, which is why this kind of recovery drive is worth watching.\n• In Chhattisgarh: government departments here owe ₹3035.37 crore in electricity bills as of June 2026, and the distribution company has started cutting connections to street lights, water tanks and other municipal facilities to recover the money. If your area is dealing with street lights being out or water supply problems, it could be linked to an unpaid bill at the local government office, and it is worth checking with the municipal body.\n• For government offices: from 1 August, every office at the block level and above must pay upfront under the new prepaid system, so any office that falls behind risks having its power cut immediately.\n• In and around Bilaspur: some connections have already been disconnected at the Bilaspur Municipal Corporation, so residents there may already be experiencing disruption to public facilities.\n\nQuestions & Answers\n\n1. How much do Chhattisgarh's government departments owe in electricity bills?\nAs of June 2026, government departments owe ₹3035 crore and 37 lakh in electricity bills.\n\n2. Which department has the highest dues?\nThe Urban Administration Department has the highest dues at ₹1525.18 crore, followed by the Panchayat and Rural Development Department at ₹1057.56 crore.\n\n3. When did the prepaid electricity system come into effect?\nThe system was made compulsory from 1 August for all government offices at the block level and above.\n\n4. What action is the power company taking right now?\nIt is disconnecting connections for street lights, water tanks and other public services run by municipal bodies, with some connections already cut in the Bilaspur Municipal Corporation.\n\n5. How many government electricity connections does the state have in total?\nThe state has a total of 1,57,341 government electricity connections.\n\n6. What did Congress say about the crackdown?\nCongress said the action would affect ordinary citizens because services like street lighting and water supply could be disrupted.\n\n7. What did Minister Ram Vichar Netam say in response?\nHe said that if street lights, water supply and other public facilities get affected, the common man will ultimately have to pay the price for it.",
  "url": "https://trendkia.com/en/chhattisgarh/chhattisgarh-men-sarakari-vibhagon-ka-bijali-bakaya-3035-karora-rupae-ke-para-knpani-ne-kate-kanekshana-28998",
  "category": "Chhattisgarh",
  "publishedAt": "2026-09-07",
  "tags": [
    "Chhattisgarh electricity dues",
    "prepaid electricity system",
    "Urban Administration Department",
    "Panchayat department dues",
    "electricity connection cut",
    "Bilaspur Municipal Corporation"
  ],
  "language": "en",
  "site": "TrendKia"
}