Hc Restrains Ntpc From Power Regulation

Orissa High Court today restrained National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) from regulating power supply to Orissa till June 23.

NTPC, earlier, had threatened to regulate power supply to the state from May 22 demanding clearance of outstanding bill of Rs 190 crore calculated up to April end, 2003.

The court order came in response to a public interest litigation filed in the High Court challenging the NTPC threat to regulate power supply to the state despite signing of the tripartite agreement with the national utility.

During the hearing on the case, Grid Corporation of Orissa (Gridco), the defaulter party, pointed out that it intended to pay the NTPC dues from the second tranche of long term loans slated to be released by the Power Finance Corporation (PFC).

Stating that PFC has not yet released the loan money, Gridco had sought deferment of enforcement of power regulation.

Of Rs 1200 crore loan sought by Gridco from PFC, the latter had earlier released only Rs 200 crore in the first tranche. Of this amount, Rs 120 crore had gone to pay back the arrear dues of NTPC.

Meanwhile, sources said, NTPC has deferred action on regulation of power supply to the state till June 5.