Discoms' performance in Odisha to go under CAG lens

CAG has sought information from state government on annual accounts, annual reports of discoms between 2008-09, 2012-13

The Comptroller & Auditor General of India (CAG) has decided to take a close look at the operation of power distribution companies (discoms) in Odisha which are currently struggling to rein in steep AT&C (aggregate technical & commercial) loss touching nearly 40 per cent.

The office of the CAG is conducting a thematic audit on distribution sector and AT&C loss.

As a part of this scrutiny, it has sought information from the state government on annual accounts and annual reports of discoms between 2008-09 and 2012-13, agenda papers and minutes of meetings of the board of directors of the discoms for the same period and monitoring activities of the energy department in respect of these companies.

The Central auditor has also asked the state government to furnish information on steps taken to implement the decision to install 591 additional 33/11 KV sub-stations in different blocks and detailed project reports (DPRs) submitted by the discoms. The State Cabinet had recently approved a proposal to set up these new sub-stations at an estimated cost of Rs 1650 crore.