In a major crackdown, the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) has disconnected 80,748 electricity connections in Bhandup zone for non-payment of bills that totally amount to Rs 61.81 crore. The MSEDCL has urged consumers to pay the bills to get reconnected or face legal action. As of July, bills worth Rs 923 crore are pending in the zone and the recovery of the money has become a big task. The defaulters behind the Rs 923 crore include the 80,748 whose connections were cut after verification; action will be taken against the rest after the validation.

Consumers from Panvel city (with pending bills worth Rs 13.44 crore) top the list, while consumers from Panvel rural (Rs 10.14 crore) and Vashi (Rs 7.68 crore) follow. Most of the consumers haven’t paid bills from April 2020.