Despite removal of private management, power distribution company Southco of Odisha is still exploiting consumers and not taking measures to enhance its performance, alleged Odisha Bijuli Karmachari Sangh (OBKS), a union of workers of power sector.
In March this year, the Orissa Electricity Regulatory Commission (OERC) had revoked the distribution licences of three power distribution companies of Odisha including Southco, which were earlier managed by Anil Ambani’s Reliance Infrastructure Ltd. The OERC had handed over the management of these companies to the State-owned Gridco which holds 49% stake in the companies.
Speaking to newsmen here, the OBKS leaders said they had hoped that performance of Southco will improve after its management went to Gridco.
OBKS Ganjam district general secretary Biswanath Dash said even now Southco worker strength is too low, which is affecting consumer service. As per the OBKS, the Southco, which has 14 lakh consumers and 145 sub-stations, has only around 4,000 workers. Of these, 1,000 are employed through outsourcing. The OBKS leaders claimed that the real need was 20,000 workers and most of posts that are to be filled up are of field staff.
