A significant wave of public discontent has surged through Phase 11 and nearby regions of Mohali as residents from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, primarily living in one- and two-room accommodations, have received shockingly high electricity bills, some reaching as much as Rs 9 lakh.

Among those affected is Kailash Kaur, who is battling cancer and was presented with a bill totaling Rs 149,090. Her son, Mandeep Singh, a private driver, expressed their distress, stating, “There are just two of us at home, and a large portion of our earnings is directed towards my mother’s cancer treatment. These bills have caused us significant hardship.” He also claimed that their electricity supply was cut off by department officials.

Another resident, Natthu Ram from Amb Sahib Colony, lives in a two-room house with five family members and received a staggering bill of Rs 8,88,330. He reported that his electricity connection had also been terminated. “Our meter has been taken out, while those using illegal connections by paying Rs 500 are receiving continuous electricity,” he asserted.

Other locals, such as Paramjit Kaur, who was billed Rs 60,000, and Kamaljit Kaur, also reported receiving exorbitant bills and described their futile attempts to resolve the issues at electricity offices.

Kamaljit Kaur mentioned that despite making payments of Rs 15,000, Rs 10,000, and Rs 5,000 in installments, “no one is providing an explanation for the inflated bills.” She noted that her situation was eventually addressed after seeking assistance at the office of Balbir Singh Sidhu, which led to the restoration of her connection through a meter, although outstanding dues persisted.

In response to the situation, Balbir Singh Sidhu, a senior Congress leader and former Health Minister, held a press conference, revealing that approximately 25 to 30 complaints from Phase 11 have been formally registered at his office.

He criticized the Punjab government, stating, “The policies have driven ordinary citizens into financial turmoil. This is not merely an error; it is a calculated exploitation.” Sidhu accused officials of intentionally delaying electricity bills for 4 to 5 months, only to release inflated charges all at once.

“This is not a ‘zero bill’ scheme but a complete failure of the government,” he added.

Sidhu further indicated that there have been instances where electricity meters were removed without justification, describing it as indicative of “authoritarian and oppressive governance.”

He warned that if these unjustified bills are not revoked and relief is not provided, the Congress party would resort to large-scale protests.

When approached for a response, XEN Amandeep Singh denied the existence of widespread billing issues. “We are not aware of any large-scale billing errors. These might be isolated incidents due to meter malfunctions or reading mistakes,” he stated.