Discom overdue increases 5.5-times in 5 states; disputes rising too

Bills worth Rs 12,856 crore were in dispute till January 2020, the amount has risen to Rs 15,098 crore.

Power distribution companies (discoms) in 26 of India’s 36 states and union territories (UT) have witnessed an increase in overdue since last year; with 30 territories having dues pending for more than two months.

The power ministry, in a written reply to Rajya Sabha, said on Tuesday that over a third of the Rs 1,35,497 crore of the loans sanctioned by Rural Electrification Corporation (REC) and Power Finance Corporation (PFC) has been released.

The government had announced a liquidity infusion scheme last year under its Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan initiative to help discoms clear their dues. However, data shows that the