SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Tuesday ruled out any amnesty scheme to waive outstanding electricity dues of industrial consumers, even as it revealed that domestic amnesty schemes have already benefited over three lakh consumers and generated ₹322 crore in revenue.
Responding to an Un-Starred Assembly Question by INC MLA Tariq Hameed Karra, the Power Development Department (PDD) stated that no proposal is under consideration to exonerate industrial units from paying their electricity liabilities.
On the other hand, the government highlighted the gains made under domestic amnesty programmes. The first amnesty scheme, which commenced in September 2022 and concluded in March 2025, benefited 2,81,966 domestic consumers — 1,64,729 under JPDCL and 1,17,237 under KPDCL — and generated ₹322 crore (JPDCL: ₹164 crore; KPDCL: ₹158 crore).
The second and ongoing amnesty scheme, set to end in March 2026, has so far benefitted 18,307 consumers under KPDCL and 547 under JPDCL, adding another ₹16 crore to departmental revenue.
The amnesty scheme offers full waiver of interest and surcharge up to March 31, 2023, while the principal amount must be paid in full, the government clarified.
The reply indicates that consumers must clear the base dues to avail benefits. The government also stated that power disconnections are rare in cases of consumers with large outstanding arrears.
On a query whether consumers were forced to pay ₹5000 for restoration of connection and if outstanding amounts continued to reflect despite the amnesty, the government responded that restoration is done immediately upon partial payment, but unpaid principal continues to reflect in future bills until fully cleared.
