Orissa Power workers demand probe into actions of Reliance discoms
Sunday, 27 September 2009
Bhubneshwar
Indian Express

Nikhila Orissa Bidyut Shramika Mahasangha requested Orissa CM to intervene in this matter
Nikhila Orissa Bidyut Shramika Mahasangha, a federation of workers in the power sector of the State, today demanded a high-level probe into all the business transactions of Reliance Energy Limited (REL)-managed three distribution companies (distcoms) in the wake of alleged BSES scam involving Rs 950 crore. In a memorandum to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, the body demanded appropriate action against the three companies for violating all the agreements and their failure to provide the minimum services to the consumers.

Mahasangha general secretary Sarat Chandra Mohanty, who is engaged in legal tangle with REL-managed Wesco, Nesco and Southco, told mediapersons here that if BSES, a subsidiary of Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group, could forge bidding documents to win a contract for purchase of transformers, the company could do the same in the State.

In an affidavit submitted to the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity recently, Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) said documentary evidence relating to purchase of transformers submitted by BSES_ biggest power distribution company in the national capital_ was found doctored and fake.

Mohanty said the REL-managed utilities have the dubious distinction of supplying old meters to the consumers in the State.

“While there are large number of reputed manufacturers of aerial bunch conductors in the country, the three distcoms have procured aerial bunch cables from Sri Lanka and the procurement procedure was not transparent,’’ he alleged.

He further said that all the electrical equipment and machineries purchased by the three distcoms were procured through REL-owned agencies. While all the costs incurred on capital expenditure are transferred to the consumers through tariff, the general consumers have no scope to scan the purchase details.

Although the share holders agreement of the three distcoms with Gridco expired in 2004, the utilities are taking shelter under court of law when issue of renewal of the agreement is raised.