Shops closed, why electricity bills? ask shopkeepers

NEW DELHI: When most of the commercial shops are closed, the shopkeepers are venting out their anger after electricity bills are sent to them by BSES. The shopkeepers say that when the shops are locked and there is no consumption of electricity why the BSES is sending them bills and messages to pay the bills. The shopkeepers have asked the government to look into this matter.

"Why even we should pay the fixed charge during the lockdown period? We have zero income and the shops are shut by government's order. The government should take a serious note of it

and make some clarification," said Imran, who owns a photography studio in Delhi's Okhla VIhar.

The electricity bills are adding to the panic and the shopkeepers are confused what to do amid the lockdown.

BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi said, "I think Delhi Administration should take a call on fixed commercial charges and waive. Keeping financial implications in order they should inform the public if there are other implications."

"I received a bill of over 10 thousand amid the lockdown. Since its connected to my bank account, the money got automatically deducted. Are the authorities even justified to send the bill at this moment?,"asks Javed Mallik, who owns an electrical goods showroom in South Delhi's Zakir Nagar.

While responding to one such query on twitter BSES replied, "Provisional bill has been generated as reading could not be done due to lockdown. You are requested to make the payment on this estimated reading. The actual reading bill with adjustment of payment made during lockdown period will be sent once the lockdown situation gets normalised. Appreciate your cooperation."