Even though the State Government has decided to move the Supreme Court challenging a recent order of the Appellate Tribunal on Electricity (ATE) for a revised power tariff hike, it has created a buzz that the apex court may not entertain the Government as it did not appear at the ATE despite being a party. Alleging that the State Government’s decision is just eyewash, National Institute of Indian labour Secretary Ramesh Chandra Satpathy on Monday alleged that due to the nexus between the power distribution companies and Government such undemocratic and unlawful activities are taking place in power sector.
“On what ground the State Government will move to the apex court. While it did not appear before the ATE to record its statement then how it believes that the Supreme Court will entertain them. Technically, I believe that the apex court may reject its petition,” Satpathy told reporters here. Urging nearly 55 lakh power consumers to protest against the injustice meted out to them and to expose the nexus between the power discoms and the Government, Satpathy said the absent of the Government from the ATE’s hearing and planning to move Supreme Court later is preplanned.
Notably, the ATE recently passed the order on the appeal filed by the Reliance Infrastructure managed distribution companies (discoms), North Eastern Electricity Supply Company of Odisha ltd (Nesco), Western Electricity Supply Company of Odisha ltd (Wesco) and Southern Electricity Supply Company of Odisha ltd (Southco).
These discoms pointed out that the State power regulator Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission (OERC) had not been complying with the ATE’s orders on their appeals. The discoms had challenged the order of the regulatory commission for determination of the Annual Revenue Requirement (ARR) of discoms on unrealistic loss levels while determining tariff. “While four Government Directors are there in Nesco, Wesco and Southco then how these discoms decided to challenge the OERC’s order at ATE. It clearly exposes the secret understanding between the Government and private power distribution companies at the cost of common power consumers of the State,” said Satpathy.