Centre backs UP on power reforms

NEW DELHI, JANUARY 17: While striking employees of the Uttar Pradesh State Electricity Board continued to hold the State to ransom for the...

NEW DELHI, JANUARY 17: While striking employees of the Uttar Pradesh State Electricity Board continued to hold the State to ransom for the third day running, and the UP Government continued its tough stand by arresting a total of 2,435 strikers so far and threatening to dismiss more, the Central Government on Monday decided to throw its lot behind the State Government. Union Power Minister P R Kumaramangalam is scheduled to visit the State on Tuesday along with an entourage of top officials in a show of solidarity to push power reforms in the State.

On Monday, with all generating units across the State except the Aanpara thermal unit shut down due to the striking employees, generation in the State was down to a third of the normal 3,300 MW, and the State on Monday drew large amounts of power from National Thermal Power Corporation NTPC, and the Central government agreed on Monday to step this up.

Kumaramangalam, who is scheduled to address a press conference in Lucknow on Tuesday is essentially goingto focus on how the UPSEB employees are trying to protect the benefits they derive from the huge theft of power that takes place in the State 8212; close to 40 per cent of the total power generated in UP is stolen, and that adds up to a whopping Rs 3,000 crore.

As a senior official of the Power Ministry pointed out, 8220;normally8221; workers8217; strikes are related to their service conditions, salaries etc. 8220;But in this case, workers are not fighting for this, as the State Government has already assured that these will be protected. They are only opposing reforms because they have a vested interest in encouraging power pilferage in the state,8221; he added.

In addition, Kumaramangalam is also expected to highlight the fact that the State has a pathetic record of efficiency in the power sector. It owes Rs 3,900 crore for power it has already bought from Central utilities such as NTPC and NHPC 8212; that8217;s around a fifth of the outstandings of all SEBs to these utilities.