Electricity officials cut power supply for PPO in Falaknuma

Falaknuma: As barely two days are left for the disbursement of pension, the electricity department has disconnected power supply for the Assistant Pension Payment Office (PPO), at Madina Colony, Falaknuma (known as PPO office Motigalli) due to non-payment of the dues. With this, all the process of filing and upgradation of pensioners' status besides other official work has come to a grinding halt at the office. This has prompted the officials to run for an early solution of the issue there is no enough time for the disbursement of the pension. "We have reminded the concerned officials many times for the repayment of the dues. However, finding that no payment was made since a long time, and all our reminders have gone unheard, we have disconnected the supply today," informed the Assistant Divisional Engineer, Charminar Sub-Division Mohd. Khaleel.

Pension payment office at Madina Colony, Falaknuma works as a joint operational section for almost 16,000 pensioners from Changrayangutta as well as Motigally under Hyderabad jurisdiction.

Tagged in a narrow street at Madina Colony under Falaknuma, this office is being run in a ground floor of a building with two separate operational sections, each for Chandrayangutta and Motigally. It is said that both the sections together carries electricity bills over dues around Rs 50,000 to Rs60,000. Seizing the opportunity of the peak work of upgradation of data in last days of the month at PPO office, the electricity department pulls off the switch in order to seek payment of the arrears. The officials of pension payment office were unaware of the unexpected action from the electricity department, as they were busy in data upgradation of the beneficiaries, which was essential for the smooth disbursement of the pension enrolled under their office. Soon after the crackdown, the officials of APPO rushed to the office of the concerned electricity department to convince the authorities give them some more time. However, the authorities gave them only two days of time and asked a written authorization letter on behalf of APPO citing the arrears will be made in stipulated time, failing which the payment will be made by the assistant pension payment officer himself.

With no other option left, the officials of PPO office handed over an authorization letter to the authorities of the electricity department to seek an early resolve of the matter as only two days have been left for the disbursement of pension. "We have to complete the task of upgrading the data pertaining to the pension amount and other emoluments especially of new pensioners. Works are not being done on time due to the power shut down, which may cause the payments be delayed by a month." felt a worried official of PPO.