Ludhiana, July 16 -- komal.kumari@hindustantimes.com

The ongoing strike by meter readers has left Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) with an additional financial burden of more than Rs.1.41 crore in its Central Zone after the utility was forced to dispatch thousands of high-value electricity bills through speed post due to disruption in the regular meter reading and billing process.

Official figures show that 1,18,254 N-Code bills were generated across the Central Zone up to July 7. Of these, 61,566 bills totaling Rs.5,000- Rs.15,000 were delivered via speed post at a cost of Rs.23 per bill, resulting in an expenditure of Rs.1,41,67,754. The remaining 56,688 bills, with dues ranging from Rs.1,000 to Rs.5,000, were delivered ...