HVPN completes bidding documentation

HISAR, Feb 15: Most of the bidding documentation for the action plan-2 of the Haryana power sector reform project has been completed by t...

HISAR, Feb 15: Most of the bidding documentation for the action plan-2 of the Haryana power sector reform project has been completed by the Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam HVPN and cleared by the World Bank. The plan is to be executed with the help of a second instalment of Rs. 1,100 crores which is likely to be released by the World Bank during April next.

Stating this, Attar Singh Saini, Minister of State for Power, said that under the World Bank-aided plan of the reform project, the government would set-up 93 new substations, augment capacity of 89 existing substations and erect 16,000 kilometre long new power transmission and distribution lines, besides augmentation and addition of power distribution transformer and refurbishment oil of 11 Kv and low-tension distribution lines.

According to him, a massive investment of US doller 1.4 billion had been planned towards rehabilitatin and expansion of the power transmission and distribution system over the next 8-10 years. That would include emphasis on demand side management and efficiency improvement measures.

The minister said that the government would float global tenders for equity holding of the private sector of one of the two power distribution corporations. For retail distribution of power, he said, two distribution corporations had been established which would start functioning with effect from 1st April, after taking license from the Haryana Power Regulatory Commission. Both of the companies would start functioning in government sector.

However, one of them would later be converted into joint venture company. The North Haryana Power Distribution Corporation would cover 11 districts while the South Haryana Power Distribution Corporation would cover eight districts of the state. He said that the reforms would mean much more efficient working of the power sector.

Except one joint sector company in the distribution sector, no other privatisation was envisaged. Employees had been fully protected and they would continue to enjoy present salaries, etc., besides security of services.

Saini claimed that there had been a quantum jump in power availability from an average of 33.4 million units a day during 1995-96 to 37.5 million units now. A record power supply of 45.8 million units was recorded on August 9 last year compared to 40.9 million units during 1995-96 on a single day. The plant load factor of the state owned thermal power stations registered an improvement of about seven percent during the period of present government. While completion of the massive programme for renovation and modernisation of Panipat Thermal Power Plant would increase the power generation three times the present level with 80 percent plant load factor.

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The minister informed that revenue collection of the HVPN had increased considerably as defaulting consumers were coming forward in large number for depositing their due power bills. The surcharge waving off scheme of the nigam was proving to be fruitful. Keeping in view the demand of farmers and the domestic consumers, last date of the scheme had again been extended upto February 28.