Kashmir industry against privatisation of power sector

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, January 28

The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI) today warned against the reported move to privatise the power sector in the state.

“The chamber urges the authorities to set in order the prevailing system which employs a large number of trained engineers and staff in a manner that they are in a position to deliver on ground. The KCCI expresses that privatisation of electric power supply system in the state will cause more difficulties to consumer and will bring no immediate improvement in the situation,” KCCI senior vice-president Mushtaq Ahmad Wani said.

“The KCCI have for a long time been persisting on a demand that the power houses in the state that have been established by the NHPC and are controlled by them be transferred back to the state. Unfortunately despite assurances and also the recommendation made by the Prime Ministers Task Force constituted in 2004 and also by the Interlocutors, no final decision with regard to the transfer of power projects could be taken,” he added.

Pointing out that the state-owned water resource were capable of generating 20,000 MW of hydroelectric power, he regretted that the power situation in the state both for industries as also domestic use remained ‘uncertain and erratic’.

Referring to the problems being faced by consumers, the KCCI said: “Load shedding and curtailment of power is frequent beyond tolerance. The supply is erratic yet the bills are raised irrationally. Transformers damaged take months to get replaced leaving people on lurk to cry for the essential requirement of electricity. With the situation so obtaining the KCCI has right to argue as to how the proposed privatisation of power distribution could help the situation improve?”