Coal news and updates

Jharkhand’s power dues to DVC surge to Rs 8,000 crore

October 27: The total outstanding dues of Jharkhand State Electricity Board (JSEB) against the power purchased from Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) has reached a staggering Rs 8,000 crore, DVC sources told ICMW.

“Outstanding dues payable by JSEB and other direct consumers have reached Rs 8,000 crore to date. There is steady demand for power from the state but the payment situation is pretty bad,” the sources said.

In fact, data provided by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) shows that DVC tops the charts in terms of outstanding dues of power utilities payable to central public sector undertakings (CPSUs).

As of July 2014, the data shows outstanding dues payable to DVC was around Rs 7,600 crore. This included a principal amount of Rs 4460.84 crore and surcharge of Rs 3147.22 crore.

Of the total amount, JSEB alone accounted for around Rs 7,573 crore, the data revealed.

West Bengal State Electricity Board (WBSEB) owed another Rs 30.95 crore and Bihar State Electricity Board (BSEB) had dues payable of Rs 3.73 crore.

“The outstanding dues payable by JSEB is being accumulated every month. The case is same for direct consumers in the state,” the sources said.

This has resulted in reduced generation from new capacities added to existing plants such as Mejia, Chandrapura and Bokaro. The situation is the same for upcoming projects, they added.