Chandigarh: Agency penalized for overcharging
Chandigarh: The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Chandigarh has directed Mohali-based agency Mahira Stores to refund the amount of Rs 37,920 illegally charged extra from Lt Gen Harwant Singh (Retd) for installation of a solar power plant along with 10 per cent interest. Lt Gen Harwant Singh (Retd), a resident of Sector 33-D, Chandigarh, in his complaint filed before the commission said that he availed the services of Mahira Stores Industrial Area, Phase-7, Mohali for installation of a power plant. The agency was approved and authorised by Chandigarh Renewable Energy and Science and Technology Promotion Society (CREST) of the Chandigarh Administration. The agency was given a purchase order on August 3, 2018 for installation of a 3 KWP SPV solar power plant at his house at a total cost of Rs 1,80,000. He paid an advance amount of Rs 20,000 to the agency for installation of the solar power plant.
But the agency did not start the work. Thereafter, as per the demand of the agency, he paid an additional amount of Rs 2,00,000. He alleged that firstly, the agency took an additional amount of Rs 40,000 for setting up the solar plant against the purchase order of Rs 1,80,000 and secondly, delayed the work on one pretext or the other and completed the work only in October 2018. He requested for refund of the additional amount of Rs 40,000 taken several times, but the agency has not refunded the amount till date. Crest replied that the agency has taken an additional amount from the complainant as it is not entitled to take more than the prescribed rate and in the present case, the rate of the agency was Rs 61,000 per kW per unit and the complainant had installed a solar plant of 3 kW per unit, thus the total amount payable by the complainant is only Rs 1,83,000. The agency Mahira Stores did not appear despite service of notice, hence unilateral action was taken against it.
