The Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) subscribers of Patparganj housing societies in East Delhi and several colonies in South Delhi are facing a huge problem in depositing their monthly telephone bills as these are not being distributed to them on time.
A resident of Patparganh, R. Singh, said earlier MTNL had issued a press note extending the payment date to June 10 stating that due to technical problems the bills could not prepared and distributed on time. However, when some subscribers went to Sanchar Haat to enquire about the bills, they found bundles of bills lying in the office. However, the staff refused to hand these over, claiming that it was not their duty to do so.
When the subscribers enquired about the alternative, they were told to make online payment or procure duplicate bills from the MTNL offices in Laxmi Nagar or Mayur Vihar Phase-I. “When the area General Manager’s office was informed about the problem, the staff refused to intervene,” Mr. Singh said.
The problem is the same in South Delhi. A resident of East of Kailash, R. Prasad, said many area residents have not received their bills and have to despite no fault of theirs stand in long queues in the oppressive heat and humidity to procure a duplicate bill. “It is the responsibility of MTNL to provide the original bills. With such indifference towards paying customers, MTNL cannot hope to compete with private operators,” said another harried customer.
