Mehta's report was part of an affidavit filed by Chief Secretary G C Shrivastava before the court on Monday. The power secretary has also admitted that the Electricity Department is not serious about recovering arrears from big users.

Just before a question pertaining to the Power Department was about to be called during Question Hour, members of the Opposition Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) were on their feet, demanding that the affidavit filed by Shrivastava be placed before the House.

When Speaker Tomashino Cardoso ruled out any discussion on the subject on the ground that the matter is sub-judice and postponed its discussion, MGPand Bharatiya Janata Party members led by leader of the Opposition Kashinath Jhalmi disrupted the proceedings, forcing an adjournment. Shortly after the House reassembled, members of the Opposition parties staged a noisy walkout.

Later, speaking to the press, Jhalmi insisted that the government was abusing the privilege of legislators by not placing the affidavit before the House.

The Bombay High Court has turned the heat on the state's Power Department following a public interest petition filed regarding the functions of the department.

During the last hearing, the chief secretary was directed by the court to file an affidavit explaining why action had not been taken against officers who had failed to recover dues from defaulting industries.

Goa's Electricity Department is facing arrears amounting to Rs 16 crore though it has recovered just Rs 58 lakh following a June 23 order of the court.

The court was also told that one of the biggest defaulters on payment of electricity bills, Marmagao SteelLimited, had close ties with senior politicians due to which no action has been taken against it.

Incidentally, Marmagao Steel Limited also figures in the power rebate scandal, where Power Minister Mauvin Godinho has been accused of amending in 1996 a power rebate notification issued in 1991 and subsequently rescinded in 1995.

According to BJP Member of the Legislative Assembly, Manohar Parrikar, who has filed a First Information Report against Godinho regarding the scandal, the company, set up in 1989, has been made eligible for a 25-per cent rebate on power following the 1996 amendment.

Originally, only units set up after 1991 were elegible for the rebate.