AIMA affiliate suggests private distribution of power in UP

Lucknow Mgt Association says power crisis in the state largely due to pilferage emerging from transmission glitches, poor distribution and theft, rather than shortage

A professionals’ body on Wednesday suggested handing over power distribution in urban areas to the private sector for energy conservation and cutting costs.

Lucknow Management Association (LMA), an affiliate of the All India Management Association (AIMA), said much of the power crisis in Uttar Pradesh was attributed to power pilferage emerging from power transmission glitches, poor distribution and theft, rather than just power-generation shortage.

“Private power distribution companies have introduced modern technology in several cities that has negated possibilities of power theft and pilferage. The same model could be adopted in Uttar Pradesh,” LMA Secretary A K Mathur said here. The decision of the state government to hand over power distribution to private companies has so far met with little success, especially due to stiff opposition from state energy department employees.

Meanwhile, LMA is organising its annual convention on driving UP’s growth through power sector in Lucknow on Friday to brainstorm on vital energy issues in the state, which faces perennial crisis due to the widening demand-supply gap.  The state falls short of about 3,000 megawatt (Mw) during peak hours.

People scheduled to speak at the session included Central Electricity Regulatory Commission Chairman Gireesh Pradhan, Association of Power Producers Director General Ashok Khurana, BHEL Chief Managing Director B P Rao, Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) Director General Ajay Mathur.

Of late, the power issue has been a major bone of contention between the Centre and the state government with each side blaming each other.