'NALCO owes Rs 496.23 cr as power bill to Orissa'

Power dues amounting to Rs 630 crore were pending in Orissa with 34 companies, including public sector National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO) and Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP).     

This was stated by state Energy Minister Atanu S Nayak while replying to a question in the Assembly yesterday.     

"Maximum arrear of Rs 496.23 crore towards electricity bill was pending with NALCO by end of 2008-09," the minister shared adding the Navratna company had, however, paid Rs 156 crore as per an interim order of the Orissa High Court.     

As the matter relating to NALCO was sub-judice, the minister added, the state government was not sure on the time limit within which the company would make full payment.     

NALCO was followed by RSP, another CPSU, with an arrear of Rs 50.96 crore. Dues with Oswal Chemical & Fertiliser, Paradeep, also stood at Rs 28.24 Crore, he said.     

While private sector Ballarpur Industries Limited, Jeypore owes Rs 11.69 crore as power bill, ICCL/IMFA, Choudwar is to pay Rs 1.18 crore to the state towards electricity bill.     

Dues of other companies are: Aarati Steel & Power Limited, Cuttack (Rs 13.16 cr), Shree Metalicks, Keonjhar (Rs 8.11 crore), and ESPL, Jharsuguda (Rs 1.91 cr).