Unpaid Power Bill Dispute Cuts Mobile Connectivity to 15 Gram Sabhas in Chamoli's Nijmula Valley
A dispute over an unpaid electricity bill of over Rs 10 lakh has left 15 gram sabhas in Chamoli's Nijmula Valley without mobile network after the area's only BSNL tower lost power.
Current Summary
According to a New Indian Express report, a dispute over an unpaid electricity bill has left 15 gram sabhas in Uttarakhand's Nijmula Valley without mobile connectivity after power supply to the area's only BSNL tower was disconnected. The bill, amounting to Rs 10,07,280, has reportedly been pending for several years. The power department says it sent repeated reminders that went unanswered before disconnecting the tower on senior officials' instructions. BSNL says it was not provided the bill or payment notices before the disconnection. The outage has disrupted calls and mobile internet across the valley, which has no other source of network coverage, affecting communication across the Chamoli district.
What We Know
- 15 gram sabhas in Chamoli's Nijmula Valley have lost mobile connectivity.
- The area's only BSNL tower lost power after the connection was disconnected over an unpaid bill of Rs 10,07,280.
- The power department says it sent multiple reminders to BSNL that went unanswered.
- BSNL says it was not given the bill or payment notices before the disconnection.
- Junior engineer Deepak Rana and BSNL sub-divisional officer Rajesh Saini gave conflicting accounts of the dispute.
What Is Still Unclear
- When power will be restored to the tower.
- Whether emergency services in the valley have been affected by the loss of connectivity.
- Whether either side plans to pay or waive the disputed amount.
What Changed
- 1 Oct, 07:40 pmSignal detected: Unpaid Power Bill Dispute Cuts Mobile Connectivity to 15 Gram Sabhas in Chamoli's Nijmula Valley