U'khand power privatisation on cards

After Uttar Pradesh, two key towns in Uttarakhand may also see privatisation of power distribution system.

The government-run Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited (UPCL), the sole power distributor in the state, has proposed privatisation of distribution at Roorkee in Haridwar district and Rudrapur in Udham Singh Nagar district where transmission and distribution (T and D) losses and power thefts are heavy. The move is being seen as part of the power reforms programme in the state.

Under the proposal, the process of distribution of power in the two towns would be handed over to private players, an official said. “Yes, we have received a proposal and it is under consideration,” the official added.

The government wants to make a detailed study of some of the cities like Agra and Kanpur where the UP government had recently handed over the power distribution to Torrent Power company, which is also modernising the power distribution system there.

“We are not in hurry and we will study all the implications before taking a final decision,” the official added.

According to the government statistics, AT&C losses in Uttarakhand are at 30-33 per cent, mainly in the plains.

These losses are mostly in Haridwar and Udham Singh Nagar districts where the two towns are located.

According to an estimate, nearly 300,000 consumers record consumption of less than 30 units per month and 20,000 others show no consumption at all.

The UPCL officials think that the privatisation move would help in curtailing the line losses due to which the company is in red and help improve the power scenario in the state.