New Delhi, Jan. 31 -- The Union government is considering a unique initiative to let defaulting state government departments clear their outstanding dues to power distribution companies (discoms) through a dozen monthly instalments, two government officials said on condition of anonymity.
The move comes in the backdrop of worsening financial health of discoms, who in turn have delayed payments to generation utilities. State government departments have the lion's share of the total dues totalling '82,073 crore.
"If they don't clear payments, then discoms will start regulating power that will lead to social strife. We want to avoid such a situation. We have to find some way," said the first official cited above.
"Government department dues...