Public upset over paying of pending telephone bills

 MUKESH SHARMA Kalimpong, September 28: “We followed GJM’s order and now they are doing nothing about it” 

 The BSNL in order to recover the telephone bills amounting up to Rs 10 crores in the hills organized a Telephone Fare at its office in Kalimpong. The fare organized by BSNL, Darjeeling edified the consumers about the old bills, wrong bills etc. and about bill payment options. The public are now upset over the fact that the GJM can do nothing about it.

 “We did not commit any mistakes. All we did was followed the orders of the Morcha. And now when the BSNL are asking for the payments, the Morcha whom we supported so much are staying put”, said one of the consumers. The BSNL have also issued a notice stating that all bills needs to be cleared whose units have been enlisted. Those whose units are not mentioned, only their bills have been excused. The GJM General Secretary, Roshan Giri when asked about the same affirmed that no bills which have been pending during the agitation time shall be paid.

 The case is still lying with the Government and is under process. However, in this regard, the BSNL Darjeeling AGM, P Yolmu said that they have not been informed to let off the pending bills. “All the consumers need to pay their bills irrespective of the bill dates and year. Instead legal actions will be taken against those who do not pay the bills”, said Yolmu. The BSNL will be hosting similar fare at Kurseong after Kalimpong.

 It may be mentioned here that during the time of GJM’s agitation in mid 2008 the public were directed not to pay telephone, electricity and many other governmental bills, because of which the public were relaxed the bill payments till July 2011. Soon after the GTA formation, the electricity bills started piling up after August 2011. Further, in December 2011, because of the vast telephone bills, the BSNL started disconnecting their services.

 In one hand the State Government relaxed the electricity bill payments, while in the other, telephone being the Centre’s subject nothing much could be done. Before the formation of GTA, the GJM had approached the then Union Home Minister, P Chidambaram and had appealed him to excuse the telephone bills. But nothing has been as of now.