Govt Employees for work discipline The feelings at the State Co-ordination Committee meet Mitsubishi invited to participate in HPL Haldia going on in full steam Hike in Central Power rates at eastern region It's more misery for eastern region's industries Captive Power plant: sale opposed At Sail, Durgapur Ekushe february Observations in Bengal

by Staff Correspondent

Government of India unilaterally revised the tariff of National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) Power Situations in Eastern Region, which would adversely affect the financial position of the State Electricity Boards as well as the industrialisation in the States of eastern region. As per notifications in November/December '98, the fixed charges of Farakka, Kahelgaon and Talcher Thermal Power Plants of NTPC have been increased by about 40% with retrospective effect. The cost of Central Sector power, which was about Rs. 2.06 per unit average in September '98, has now become Rs. 2.83 per unit from November '98 onwards. This has come as a big blow to the prospects of future industries in this Region apart from the added liabilities thrust on State sector Power Agencies in the Region.

The obvious purpose is to satisfy the World Bank conditionalities to ensure that the receivables of NTPC goes up to the maximum extent possible before CERC is allowed to regulate the tariff of Central Power Agencies. Eastern Region in the process is being subjected to a gross economic injustice as its Power Stations are being asked to buy power at such an exhorbitant rate from NTPC whereas surplus power from Eastern Region is being sold to other Regions at a lower tariff to suit the political game plan of the Ruling Party at the Centre.