Residents of different villages in this central Kashmir district of Ganderbal are up in arms against the Power Development Department (PDD) for allegedly dispatching ‘inflated’ power bills to the consumers.The residents of Haripora, Manigam, Nunner and Plan alleged that PDD division Ganderbal has sent them electricity bills at flat rates despite their areas falling under metered areas.Locals told Press Trust of Kashmir that, “PDD has charged us extra fee even as the electricity remained disrupted for most of the time in the area. They have charged Rs. 600 for the month but district court of Ganderbal order to take 125 Rs per Month from poor people.Similarly, another consumer has been charged Rs. 727 bill. The residents said that the PDD has failed to provide power supply to them as per their own schedule, but when they have to send electricity bills, they charge hefty sums.“We fail to understand why the department has charged us bills at flat rates when our areas are metered. They are sending bills to the consumers as per their own wish. They should charge us as per the units we have utilized during the month. What for they had installed meters here when had to charge us at flat rates,” the residents said.Locals also said that “AEE, Inspector and lineman are taken money from some people and they got illegal connection and only that they there is some factories they have illegal connection”. They added that if they have 35 units but PDD lineman and inspector shows 10 units as they taken their monthly money from these factories. They added that “When they try to contact AE, Lineman they never response any phone call”.The residents threatened that if the department failed to waive off the overcharged bills, they would be forced to come out on streets to register their protest.People appeal Governor Jammu and Kashmir N N Vohra to take action against these employees and transfer them another place. (PTK)