Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SP)
Udupi, Jun 26: Udupi Power Corporation Ltd (UPCL), functioning from Nandikoor near Padubidri in the district, which had shut down its power generation units since June 12 this year, initiated steps on Wednesday June 25 to resume power generation. UPCL had switched off its generating units, citing unpaid dues amounting over Rs 2,000 crore from different electricity supply companies in the state to it.
The preliminary firing procedure began on Wednesday morning, and the units were expected to start supplying power from Wednesday night onwards, company sources said. The company, which also suffered from shortage of coal for its thermal power units, is now assured of replenishment, as two ships loaded with coal from Indonesia entered Mangalore port on Wednesday. This coal stock is exclusively meant for UPCL, and the company is preparing to reach its full potential of generation 600 mw power from Thursday onwards.
The company officials said that its management had succeeded in pooling money from various alternative sources for its operations, and that different officials of the company had met people's representatives including the district in-charge minister, in an effort to recover money due to it. The company is hopeful that the issue of non-payment of dues will be discussed at the present session of the state assembly, and that early arrangements would be made to clear the dues.
Central Electricity Regulatory Authority (CERC), which fixes rates for power, has fixed a rate of Rs 4.47 for every unit of power supplied by UPCL. UPCL has filed an application for revision of this rate. However, Nandikoor Jajajagruti Samiti has opposed this petition. Its honorary president, Balakrishna Shetty, said that UPCL came into being by employing dubious methods, and that CERC can take a decision only after the report of the state comptroller and auditor general of the state submits a report on UPCL. Shetty says that the state government will be in trouble if it decides to pay higher than Rs 2.11 per unit fixed by the previous BJP government as per the power purchase agreement.
The state electricity supply companies, which are already fighting against the earlier rate fixed at Rs 4.47 per unit, are up in arms against the new petition filed by the company for revision of electricity rate. Electricity supply companies have been arguing that UPCL does not fall under the jurisdiction of CERC.