January 26, 2008	Saturday	Muharram 16, 1429

BADIN, Jan 25: Hundreds of consumers facing detection bill cases pending with Hesco offices are being harassed and victimized by corrupt officials, including disconnections.

Illegal detection bills were issued to large number of consumers intentionally by meter readers who are spared of punishments. However, innocent consumers have been put to mental torture for no fault of theirs.

Over 300 cases of detection bills are reportedly lying in Hesco offices with victims compelled to get their monthly bills corrected for which they visit utility’s offices spending around Rs50 to Rs100 in conveyance.

They also complained of excessive billing than actual units they consume but still their cases are not being decided on merit.

They said clerks in Hesco offices allegedly dispose of pending cases wherein their palms are greased and mostly such cases get dumped in the record with nominal payment shown against huge amounts in detection bills.

They said that they were ensured of no power disconnection till their cases were decided and that running bills could be paid on regular basis. Yet, local Hesco offices are not entertaining such pleas rather have stopped consumers from going for correction in bills with the demand either to pay in full or half, else face disconnection, said an official.

He added officials have warned that in case of non-payment of detection bills power will be disconnected along with necessary action as they have fallen into the disconnection list bringing them into the clause of main defaulters.

Detection case victims demanded Federal Mohtasib, Hesco chief and high-ups for withdrawal of all old detection cases pending with the power utility since long with the vow to save consumers from disconnection anguish.