7 Tribal Families In Anakapalli District Get Abnormal Electricity Bills

VISAKHAPATNAM: Seven tribal families of Dolavanipalem village under T. Ajjapuram panchayat of Ravikamatham mandal in Anakapalli district are shocked after receiving high electricity bills and losing their power connections for not paying such bills.

The families maintain that they have used only basic appliances, two light bulbs and a fan per household, raising serious concerns over billing accuracy and fairness.

The family of Konda Dora received a bill of Rs 28,000, while G. Nagaraju has been charged Rs12,000. Others who got high bills are Dola Eswar Rao Rs 7,049, Lokala Eswar Rao Rs 5,481, and Raga, Dola Panduraju and Goturi Kullappa Rs 5,000 each.

Following this, the families staged a dharna using Kagadas (burning torches) in protest against the disconnection of their electricity supply. They say electricity officials ignored their appeals and cut their connections without prior notice or dialogue.

This situation contradicts the state government's policy guaranteeing free electricity up to 200 units for Dalit and tribal households. The families argue that their bills far exceed this entitlement. They suspect discrepancies in billing or metering.

The families are demanding that higher authorities investigate the irregularities and restore their power supply.