Even as Uttar Pradesh is gripped by a serious power crunch with consumers reeling in early summers, the UP Power Corporation limited (UPPCl) is selling power at Rs 2.75 per unit to other states even as it procures it at Rs 5-6 per unit.
Opposition parties and consumer organisations have condemned the Corporation brass and demanded intervention of the Chief Minister to prevent the irregularity terming it 'against the interest of power consumers'.
An office bearer of UP Power Consumer Forum alleged that the UPPCl was purchasing power from private players at Rs 5 to Rs 6 per unit and selling it for peanuts - Rs 2.75 per unit.
Sources in the UPPCl however said that the power utility has made an agreement with different states and power companies to purchase additional power during summers after the demand during peak hour rose to 16,000 MW.
However, this demand suddenly slumped to 13,0000 MW last week in the aftermath of storm and thundershower across the state leading to breakdown in power supply to western UP.
A senior UPPCl official said, "We had only two options - one to close down our generation units or sell additional power to other states. We chose the second as shutting down power units was costly. By selling power, the Corporation has managed to earn some extra revenue."
The Corporation had to sell the additional power at the rate of Rs 2.75 per unit during day time. On Saturday, it sold 8,11,550 units and earned a revenue of Rs 22.31 lakh while on Friday and Thursday, it sold power to the tune of Rs 10 lakh.
The Consumer Forum officebearer contradicted the Corporation claims saying, "If the UPPCl had surplus power, then it could have revised schedule of power supply to rural areas of 14 to 18 hours and increase supply hours for Tehsil and district headquarters.’’
He said that it was unfortunate that rural areas and drought-hit Bundelkhand were facing acute power crisis and instead of meeting the domestic demand, the Corporation was selling power.
Meanwhile, BJP spokesperson Vijay Bahadur Pathak urged the CM to order a probe into anomaly.
"How can the UPPCl sell power through power exchange when it is unable to meet domestic demand and people are reeling under power crisis. There seems to be a huge scam, as the Corporation is buying power from private companies at Rs 5 to Rs 6 per unit and surplus power is being sold at Rs 2.75 per unit."
UP Congress leader Virendra Madan also questioned the UPPCl wisdom of procuring power at high cost and selling it at throwaway rates even as large parts of the state are gripped by power crisis. He too demanded the state government to order a probe.