Ranchi, Nov 9 (IANS) Jharkhand suffers a Rs.88 crore-loss every month as it purchases power at higher rates only to sell it to consumers at subsidised tariff, an official source said here Tuesday.
The main reason behind the loss-making performance of the state electricity board is the declining power production in the state which completes ten years of its formation Nov 15, the official added.
‘Every month, the Jharkhand State Electricity Board (JSEB) purchases power worth Rs.213 crore only to sell it at subsidised rates for Rs.148 crore. Against this, JSEB manages to realise barely Rs.125 crore from its consumer every month. This way, JSEB is losing Rs.88 crore per month,’ the official told IANS.
Jharkhand’s power generation was 450 MW in November 2000 which came down to 300-350 MW, the official said, adding that the main reason for the decline in power production was the indifferent attitude of successive governments.
‘The successive governments failed to take appropriate measures to set up new plants. The Arjun Munda government from March 2003 to September 2006 focused on signing MoUs and the Madhu Koda regime from September 2006 to August 2008 witnessed scams worth more than Rs.400 crore in JSEB. Power production seems to have never been on the agenda of the successive governments,’ Congress spokesperson Alok Dubey told IANS.
At present, Jharkhand needs 1,300 MW power to meet its requirements and its two power plants Patratau Thermal Power Station and Tenughat Vidyut Nigam Ltd produce only 150 MW and 200 MW, respectively. Besides, Jharkhand gets 400-500 MW power from Damodar Valley Corporation and National Thermal Power Corporation.
