Energy Minister Pranab Prakash Das on Tuesday informed the State Assembly that the State Government has started a Capex Yojana of Rs 2,400 crore to effect overall infrastructural development in the power distribution sector. The objective of the Yojana is to bring reforms in the State’s power management by reducing transmission and distribution loses, he said.
Replying to a question of BJP MlA Dilip Ray, the Minister said the Government has already invested Rs 1,200 crore in the scheme, which include Rs 500 crore availed as assistance from the 13th Finance Commission.
He said a total of Rs 596.27 crore has been doled out as loans to power distribution companies (discoms)through the Gridco during four years, including the current fiscal. While Wesco has taken Rs 123.97 crore, Nescso Rs 124.59 crore, Southco Rs 86.48 crore and Cesu has got Rs 261.23 crore.
“As per conditions of the scheme, if distribution companies are able to reduce distribution loss by three per cent annually, the loans would be converted into grants,” the Minister said.
Besides, the Government has provided loans to these discoms through the World Bank, APDRP and the Gridco in order to help them to become financially strong and to bring reformation in the power sector as a whole. However, they have not made any investment on their own since 2010, the Minister said.
From the above sources, while Wesco has taken Rs 564.50 crore, Nesco Rs 546.11 crore, Southco Rs 471.98 crore and the Cesu has taken Rs 2503.43 crore.
Replying to a related question asked by Congress MlA Naba Kishore Das, the Energy Minister informed that the Government has not been able to collect the pending dues from the four companies.
While outstanding amount of Rs 1110.25 crore is now pending with Nesco, Rs 1300.08 crore with Wesco, Rs 846.21 crore with Southco and Rs 1872.90 crore is pending with the Cesu (earlier it was Sesco under the AES Company).
The Government has filed a case against the AES Company in the Khordha District Court to collect the outstanding remaining with the then Sesco. The case is now subjudice.
Similarly, cases are subjudice in the Appellate Tribubal of Electricty (ATE) against the R-Infra to collect outstanding amounts from the rest three companies.
The R-Infra owned Wesco, Nesco and Southco till its licence was cancelled on March 4, 2015. The Gridco is running these companies now.