Gurugram: Raheja Novodaya residents challenge DHBVN notice

GURUGRAM: A recent notice served by DHBVN over non-payment of electricity bills has been challenged by residents of Raheja Novodaya in Sector 92 — who have claimed that the matter is sub judice and that the society has obtained a stay from the court over disconnection of their temporary supply.

The DHBVN order had come as a blow to over 300 residents in the condominium as they claim to be reeling from financial and environmental damages due to heavy consumption of diesel in operating DG sets to meet the power demand.

In a recent correspondence with the discom, the authorised representative (AR) of the society has apprised the department of the district court’s December 2019 order that stayed the discom’s attempt to disconnect the power supply. The AR also claimed that nearly Rs 27 lakh was paid in July to settle the pending dues and further over Rs 8 lakh was paid earlier this week. With this, the AR claims, the dues of the residents are settled and that discom cannot suspend the power supply.

SS Sandhu, AR of the society, said: “The remaining dues are because the builder couldn’t obtain a permanent connection. Residents are not liable for that.” Sandhu noted that all the dues have been settled as per the domestic rates and the difference amount is because of the commercial rates of the units. Former RWA members have also asserted that all the payments were done during their tenure. They refuted charges claiming payments weren’t made and blamed DHBVN for refusing to take payments at domestic rates.

“We resigned on May 11 and the bill for March was raised on May 15. So, any non-payment pending thereafter isn’t our responsibility. On the contrary, it was us (RWA) that secured a stay order to ensure that DHBVN doesn’t suspend the power supply. Today, it is only because of that we have some negotiating power in this matter,” said Ashwani Setia, former general secretary, Raheja Navodaya Apartment Owners Association.

An RDL official said, “We applied for the connection in 2014, but DHBVN abruptly changed its norms and required additional land for 33KVA power infrastructure. ”

DHBVN official concerned couldn’t be reached for comment in the matter.