Meeting called to break the deadlock remains inconclusive
LUCKNOW, May 13 -- The Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) management and the UP Vidyut Karmchari Sanyukt Sangharsh Samiti, a body representing power sector employees and engineers, remained at odds over the proposed privatisation and reform measures in 42 districts under Purvanchal and Dakshinanchal discoms, with both sides presenting contrasting views during a meeting at Shakti Bhawan here on Monday.
UPPCL chairman Ashish Kumar Goel called the meeting in a bid to break the deadlock that had been continuing for last six months since the government decided to privatise the two discoms triggering stiff opposition from employees.
While Goel, in the meeting, emphasised the urgent need for reforms to curb mounting losses, the employees' leaders asserted that privatisation experiments in Agra, Greater Noida and Odisha had proven unsuccessful and should not be imposed on the financially vulnerable consumers of Uttar Pradesh.
Goel, according to the UPPCL spokesman, pointed out that the state's power distribution sector was reeling under severe financial stress, with subsidy and loss funding escalating from Rs 8,000 crore in 2020-21 to an estimated Rs 46,000 crore in 2024-25.
"If corrective measures are not taken, this could soar to Rs 60,000-65,000 crore by 2026-27," he warned.
"Despite significant investments under schemes like RDSS, the desired outcomes have not materialised," Goel said.
Highlighting commercial losses in Purvanchal and Dakshinanchal, he said UPPCL incurred per unit losses of Rs 4.33 and Rs 3.99 respectively, much higher than the state average of Rs 3.25 per unit.
"Employees' interests will be protected and legal safeguards will be provided to ensure job security," he assured, urging employees to refrain from disruptive activities and focus on maintaining uninterrupted power supply during the summer months.
However, the Sangharsh Samiti led by Shailendra Dubey accused the UPPCL management of bypassing a 2020 agreement with finance minister Suresh Khanna and the then energy minister Shrikant Sharma, which stated that no privatisation would occur without taking employees into confidence.
"Despite our reform proposals being appreciated by the finance minister and the then chief secretary RK Tiwari, the management unilaterally decided to privatise Purvanchal and Dakshinanchal discoms without further consultations," Dubey claimed.
The Sangharsh Samiti's presentation underscored that UPPCL's current losses were primarily due to costly power purchase agreements and outstanding dues from government departments, amounting to Rs 14,000 crore. It claimed if these agreements were scrapped and dues recovered, the discoms could turn profitable without privatisation.
The committee further argued that privatisation in Agra and Greater Noida had led to annual losses of around Rs 1,000 crore for UPPCL. It demanded immediate withdrawal of punitive actions against employees taken during previous protests, a demand that will be discussed further in a follow-up meeting scheduled for May 14.
"The UPPCL management acknowledged the committee's presentation and assured a detailed review of the reform proposals," Dubey said.
He also disputed the UPPCL's press lease, saying it was misleading. He said in the meeting, the management did not rebut Samiti's loss figures given in the presentation.
"The financial statics issue by the UPPCL's PRO were not discussed in today's meeting," he claimed....
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