CAG seeks status of power sector reforms in Odisha

The office of the Comptroller & Auditor General of India (CAG) has asked the Odisha government to submit information on status of implementation of reform programme in power sector as per memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Centre.

The state government will furnish information on areas like progress made in the targeted 100 per cent electrification of all villages, steps taken to slash transmission & distribution (T&D) losses, efforts made to achieve 100 per cent metering of all distribution feeders and metering of all consumers and implementation of tariff orders issued by power regulator Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission (OERC).

The inputs received from the state government will be included in the report of the CAG on Economic Sector for 2013-14.

Despite being a pioneer among all states in embarking on a comprehensive reform of the electricity sector, Odisha's distribution sector is still in the doldrums, with distribution companies (discoms) grappling with a steep AT&C (aggregate technical and commercial) loss of about 40 per cent.

To make power supply more efficient, the state government had announced its reforms programme in November 1993 which was formally approved by the Council of Ministers in April 1994.