Uttar Pradesh power employees and engineers have threatened to launch a state-wide agitation against the proposed handover of power distribution franchisee in Agra and Kanpur to Torrent Power.
Torrent was selected as the franchisee through a competitive bidding in February 2009 followed by a formal agreement signed on May 18. Torrent had committed investment of over Rs 200 crore and Rs 500 crore in Agra and Kanpur respectively. The powermen have warned the UP Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) against taking any “one sided” decision to proceed with the franchisee-based power distribution plan.
Power Employees’ Joint Action Committee spokesperson Shailendra Dubey alleged the average tariff rates (ATR) contained in the tenders of these two cities had been shown remarkably lower than the actual levels. He said the ATRs in the Agra and Kanpur tender documents were Rs 2.82 and Rs 3.52 per unit against the actual rates of Rs 3.98 and Rs 4.25 per unit respectively.
