Power losses mounting in states

Aggregate technical and commercial (AT&C) losses, a measure of the difference between the units supplied and realisation by way of collection, of state utilities has gone up sharply in case of a number of states including Assam, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal and West Bengal.

According to figures provided by the Power Finance Corporation, the loss figure has gone up from 31.38 per cent in 2002-03 to 41.22 per cent in 2003-04 in West Bengal, whereas in Uttar Pradesh, the four distribution companies, which had a loss of 31.78 per cent before the split in 2002-03, reported AT&C loss figures between 52 per cent and 68 per cent in 20043-04.

In Assam, the figure went up from 37.53 per cent to 54.41 per cent, while in case of Gescom in Karnataka, the hike was from 31 per cent to 43.76 per cent in 2003-04, the power ministry informed the consultative committee of members of Parliament for the ministry of power today.

States which reported improved performance included Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi and Maharashtra.

At the meeting, Power Minister, PM Sayeed also called upon state governments to take fresh initiatives in capacity addition.

"Since power is a concurrent subject, states have to join hands with the Centre in reaching electricity to the people," he said.