Other States - New Delhi   

DPSC creating hurdles for private players

By Lalit K. Jha

NEW DELHI AUG. 9. More than a month after handing over the power distribution network of the Capital to BSES and Tata Power, the Delhi Power Supply Company (DPSC) is creating hurdles in the smooth functioning of private players by adopting a non-cooperative approach with them.

``Before coming here, we had thought the major problem would be from consumers, employees, and politicians, but it is the lack of co-ordination and non-cooperative attitude of top officials of the DPSC which is creating roadblocks in our functioning,'' said a top BSES official, requesting anonymity.

Senior officials of both the Tata Power and BSES argued that for privatisation and power sector reforms in Delhi to succeed, a proper coordination between the three distribution, transmission and generation companies is essential. "After July 1, the DPSC officials have been acting in such a way they are not responsible for power in the Capital. They have just washed off their hands,'' they alleged.

Being new to the environs of the Capital and not taking risk to antagonise DPSC officials, a top Tata Power official said they were right now in a peculiar situation, as they could not afford to come out in the open with their set of complaints because they feared more disturbances from them in such a case. The private companies are understood to have appraised the Delhi Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit, about the problems being faced by them. It is only after this that the DPSC officials were directed to evolve a mechanism for proper coordination.

``We are only a handful of people who have come from Mumbai to take over the management of distribution companies. The rest of the employees are from the same DVB. Power situation can improve until and unless there is coordination from transmission and distribution companies This basic fact is not being understood by them,'' officials said.

The distribution company's officials alleged that the DPSC did not bother to inform them about the availability of power and the proposed load-shedding schedule. "Some two years ago, the DVB had made a list of theft prone areas where load-shedding is first enforced in case of shortage of electricity. Generally we are not informed about load-shedding. So far, they have been deciding on their own about such schedules and we are not consulted,'' BSES officials said.

Similarly, a number of problems were being created by DPSC, which included even in the case of payment of salaries and other allowances like medical bills to the employees. "These things consumed a lot of time as employees were anxious to get their perks and we are not able to concentrate on the real job,'' officials said. "During such privatisation process, these problems do crop up. We are trying to solve them,'' said a top officials from DPSC Finance Department.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Other States

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

• Congress blames Advani for petrol pumps scam
• Delhiites promised a dream run
• ASI grounds Govt. move
• `Govt. with a difference' should go: Youth Cong.
• DPSC creating hurdles for private players
• Doctors demand a gutka-free Delhi

Copyright © 2002, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu