Under the scheme, which was started on April 16, unauthorised domestic and non-residential power loads in UT could be regularised after paying the specified security/service charges by merely applying to the Electricity Department on a specified form.

Consumers were to earlier apply under the scheme by May 31. The scheme which stands already notified to include the cases of legal heirs, change of ownership of property and tenants will, however, be not applicable for industrial consumers.

Officials say the last date was extended after the scheme evoked an encouraging response from city residents and a number of traders and public men met senior officials in this regard. Long queues were witnessed at various electricity sub-centres today, being the last day for the scheme.

Chaos also marked the last date for applying under the scheme as confused residents were seen gathering help for filling up the form besides rushing for submission of forms on the last date today. Due to the overwhelming rush at Manimajra, the department had to call police for public management.

When Chandigarh Newsline visited the Electricity office Sub-division 5, in Industrial Area Phase I, long queues of people were seen at the cash counter at 4 p.m. where their forms were not entertained. Arrogant department employees refused to deal with anyone and intemperate language was used against those making further inquiries. The official concerned was missing. Lat Electricity Department staff put up a handwritten note saying the scheme had been extended.

Residents also complained that at some places specified forms were not available and neither were Electricity Department officials readily available. Department officials claimed that fresh forms are being printed while photocopies of forms would reach all sub-centres by tomorrow.

According to sources, while the Electricity Department had received as many as 5,700 forms under the scheme till Friday, 3,000 power consumers had applied today. Details of the total applicants under the scheme were being collected. Of the total applicants, about 600 are commercial power consumers. Officials say that although the present simplified scheme initially received a lukewarm response, the number of applicants picked up last week when the last date for the scheme was approaching.

Interestingly, a similar scheme announced in 1997 by the department got a poor response, after which the department has simplified it further. Once the scheme is over, consumers having excessive load will be penalised with load surcharge at the rate of Rs 750 per KW in case of single phase connection and at the rate of Rs 1,500 per KW in case of three-phase connection. Later, the penalty could even be in the form of disconnection of supply.