The Western Electricity Supply Company of Odisha (Wesco) on Tuesday launched a power disconnection drive in western part of the State against the defaulting consumers.

The drive is being carried out in nine districts, Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Bargarh, Subarnapur, Balangir, Nuapada and Kalahandi, after completion of the deadline for payment of the arrear dues.

In the first phase, power supply to defaulting business establishments was being disconnected.

Notably, Cesu, Southco and Nesco had earlier started similar power disconnection drives in their jurisdictions in a bid to boost revenue collection. Meanwhile, some employees of the North Eastern Electricity Supply Company of Odisha Limited (Nesco) were assaulted by several villagers at Naupada under the Khunta police limits in Mayurbhanj district on Monday. As per a complaint lodged by the victims with the Khunta police, one Santanu Kumar Naik and his parents attacked the Nesco stafrs when they were collecting dues in the locality. The accused also obstructed the Nesco employees’ vehicle, abused them and threatened to kill them, the complainants said in the FIR.

Being informed about the attack, senior Nesco officials and the Khunta police reached the village and rescued the victims. The assault scene was recorded by one of the victims on mobile phone and it was submitted to the police.

Police registered a case in this connection and started an investigation.

The Nesco has a target of recovering at least Rs 30 crore by the end of March in its jurisdiction of Baleswar, Bhadrak, Mayurbhanj, Jajpur and Keonjhar districts.

Nesco officials said the arrear amounts total about Rs 1,500 crore, of which about Rs 900 crore relates to domestic consumers and the rest to commercial supply.