Orissa power reforms take a hit as people refuse to pay dues
Refroms in the state power sector seem to have hit a major roadblock with people in Dhenkanal and Angul districts demanding the cancellation of an MoU for smart energy management signed by the state-owned power utility and Enzen Global, which has its headquarters in Bangalore.
Aiming to cut down the Aggregate Technical and Commercial (AT&C) losses, the Central Electricity Supply Utility (CESU) last year signed an MoU with Enzen Global entrusting the latter with tasks like checking power pilferage, maintenance of low transmission line, meter-reading and bill collection in the Dhenkanal electric circle. But since November 1 — the day from which the company was supposed to start work — locals in Dhenkanal and Angul districts refused to allow the company to function alleging that the entry of Enzen would lead to a sudden hike in power bills.
In the last 3 months, people from the two districts have called several bandhs and ransacked officers of CESU and Enzen.
“I don’t know why there is misgiving and apprehension about us. We have come here to invest and provide good quality power to customers in villages,” said Satheesh Kumar, chairman-cum-managing director of Enzen Global, in an interview to The Indian Express.
CESU chief executive officer Sudarshan Nayak said, “It’s not as if we are doing franchisee-based operations for the first time. We had given the opportunity for billing and collection to SHGs and others in 2005. Enzen was brought in as the efficiency attained by the previous franchisee was not upto
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