Calcutta, Apr 22: RPG power utility CESC Ltd has topped the defaulter list of the West Bengal State Electricity Board. Already reeling under a severe cash crunch, the WBSEB's outstandings from different state electricity boards and CESC has ballooned to Rs 627 crore as on March 31, 1999.OuT of this, CESC alone owes over Rs 504 crore or 80 per cent.
CESC's spokesperson contested this figure, and said its total dues to WBSEB as on March 31, 1999, was Rs 463 crore. Out of this, Rs 370 crore is accepted and due, Rs 42 crore is accepted but not due, while Rs 51 crore is disputed by CESC.
CESC's calculation does not include the late payment surcharge, while the rate has been disputed.
According to the CESC spokesman, over the last three or four months, CESC has paid up Rs 90 crore towards arrears and current bills. Since February, it has been paying the current billing of around Rs 25-30 crore.
According to WBSEB's list, CESC owes Rs 504 crore, while three state electricity boards of Andhra Pradesh,Assam and Bihar together owe around Rs 123 crore.
Outstandings from Assam State Electricity Board have touched Rs 72.64 crore followed by Bihar State Electricity Board with Rs 36 crore and Andhra Pradesh State Electricity Board Rs 14.66 crore, as on March 31, 1999.
WBSEB employees alleged that since the board is unable to recover its legitimate dues from these companies, it has not been able to repay its dues of Rs 704 crore to National Thermal Power Corp.
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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