AGRA: A private company has turned out to be allegedly charging households in Saemra village of Tajganj locality at least Rs 200 for installation of power meters, which is illegal. Residents are supposed to get the service for free. State-government-owned discom DVVNL, which had hired the firm for the job, has now filed a police complaint against it. An investigation into the case is on.Dakshinanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited (DVVNL) officials said that as per the contract which they had signed with the firm, the latter would have been paid for their work. Recovering illegal charges from consumers is a serious offence and strict action will be taken against the company, the officials added.DVVNL is working on a plan to install digital meters in houses of village Samera under the Tajganj locality. It has assigned the work to the private firm. On Thursday, a team of the discom’s enforcement wing, led by assistant engineer Jitendra Pal Singh, reached the village. Villagers revealed that five men associated with the firm, including supervisor Govind, collected Rs 200 as charges for installation of electricity meters in each house.Singh said, “Several villagers have complained of illegal charges taken from them for installation of power meters. We have recorded their statements. Two employees of the firm have also confessed to taking charges on instructions from their supervisor. The department pays the contract firm on the basis of the work done. In any case, they are not authorised to recover charges from consumers. The report against the firm has been sent to higher authorities. Besides, a complaint has been made at Tajganj police station.”

Stay updated with all the Agra Latest News headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.