Poor fiscal health
Two power discoms may be clubbed
Manish Sirhindi
Tribune News Service

Panipat, February 18
Perturbed over the deteriorating financial health of the two power distribution companies (discoms) in the state, the state government is contemplating to club the two together, to bring down the expenditure.

After unbundling the state electricity board, the authorities had formed Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam and Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam in 1999. This led to appointment of additional officers, including two managing directors, four directors, two chief auditors, two chief accounts officers, two financial advisers, along with chief engineers and superintending engineers in both the discoms.

Subhash Lamba, general secretary of the All Haryana Workers Power Union, said earlier there was a loss of Rs 450 crore which went up to Rs 12,000 crore in the last one decade due to increased expenditure of the discoms.

Sources said the two discoms could function with half of these officers and the move could also bring uniformity in forming and implementation of various policies.

It is learnt that due to fragile financial health of the two discoms, banks and various financial institutions have already refused additional loans to the two companies, thus creating a paucity of funds for strengthening the distribution system.

RS Dhaiya, president of the Haryana Power Engineers Association and Joint Action Committee of Engineers and Workers Unions, said two years ago they had given in writing that the two discoms be clubbed together. He said due to poor financial health of the discoms, the employees were finding it hard to get their medical bills cleared. He said the bonus given to thermal engineers for generating additional electricity had also been stopped. He said instead of making heavy overhead expenditure, the same funds could be used for installing new transformers and upgrading the distribution system.

Sources said the issue had already been discussed at various levels and a general consensus had also been evolved. The two major worker unions had also agreed to the proposal.

State Power Minister Capt Ajay Yadav said the matter was under consideration of the Chief Minister and a final decision was likely to be taken soon.