The Indian Express                23.04.2013

MC stops power supply to UCO bank, wants area vacated

The Ludhiana Municipal Corporation on Monday got the electricity supply of UCO Bank disconnected, forcing the bank to use its own generator. The bank, having only 1,290 square feet of area on the second floor of MC headquarters in Zone A, has been asked to vacate the area as soon as possible.

The MC has even asked its employees to shift their bank accounts — around 6,000 accounts — to another bank. "The bank has been in MC building since 1979 and now MC wants us to vacate. Two months back, MC sent us a notice saying our power bill of Rs 30 lakh is pending. But we simply do not understand how our four rooms can generate a bill of Rs 30 lakh. Now they are asking us to vacate the building," said B S Virk, manager of the bank. "Shifting salary accounts of MC staff and cutting our electricity is nothing but forcible measures to make us leave." However, Kamlesh Bansal, commissioner, Zone A, said: "We have asked the bank to vacate as we need that space for our own use."