Srinagar, August 4 (KNS): The Kashmir Trade Alliance (KTA) has urged the government to announce an immediate amnesty scheme for commercial electricity consumers, even as it welcomed the extension of the amnesty scheme for domestic consumers by the Power Development Department (PDD).

In a statement, KTA President Aijaz Shahdhar said the extension of the Amnesty Scheme for Domestic Consumers was a positive step, but stressed that excluding commercial consumers was “unjust and economically damaging.”

The extended scheme, as per the latest government order grants a 100% waiver of interest and surcharge on outstanding dues as of March 31, 2025 for domestic users.

“We welcome the decision to extend the domestic amnesty. It will certainly help a significant number of households clear their liabilities. But at the same time, the government must introduce a similar amnesty for commercial power consumers,” Shahdhar said.

He added that the business community, already under stress from economic disruptions and rising operational costs, continues to bear the brunt of mounting electricity dues.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel“We have had several rounds of discussions with officials, and promises were made. But nothing concrete has materialised for the commercial sector,” he noted.

Calling the delay “unjustified,” the KTA warned that the lack of relief is compounding financial challenges for local traders, shopkeepers, and small businesses across the region.

The organisation urged the administration to immediately roll out a comprehensive amnesty package for commercial electricity consumers, similar in structure to the domestic scheme, to ease the financial strain on the business community.

“The business sector is the backbone of the local economy. A fair and balanced approach is needed. Leaving out commercial consumers while extending relief to domestic users is a clear imbalance that must be corrected without further delay,” Shahdhar said. (KNS)