Power consumers owe Rs 806.98 cr in MP

Bhopal, Mar 29 (UNI) Madhya Pradesh's three power distribution companies are to collect Rs 806.98 crore as power dues from major industrialists and institutions, the Assembly was informed today.

In a written reply to Mr Bahadur Singh Chouhan (Bharatiya Janata Party), Energy Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya said, ''major consumers owe Rs 627.74 crore to the Western Region Power Distribution Company. Its eastern and central counterparts are to collect Rs 86.15 crore and Rs 93.09 crore respectively. Action is being taken to realise the dues.'' The Minister informed Mr Ramniwas Rawat (BJP) that several ''technical'' reasons were responsible for decline in generation during 2005-06 as compared to last three years.

''The principal reason was failure of the generator-transformer in the Sanjay Gandhi Thermal Power Station's Unit 1. Consequently, generation was shut for about four months. A part of the unit was later replaced. A scheme is in place for purchasing an additional generator-transformer for that Station's four units,'' he added.

Mr Vijayvargiya pointed out that charge-sheets were issued against 11 officials of the State Electricity Board and a power generating company regarding less coal being supplied and more payment made due to a fault in a weighing machine at the Satpura Thermal Power Station.

UNI