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Power distribution companies of Delhi, UP, Bihar, J&K persistent defaulters of Hydro CPSEs: CAG report

This is despite the fact that hydro power is sold much cheaper than thermal power as the latter requires continuous supply of coal.

A recent report from the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has named power distribution companies of Delhi, among others from UP, Bihar and J&K, as persistent defaulters of Hydro Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSE). The report, likely to be presented in the parliament in the next few days, comes after a draft CAG report in August had indicted three power discoms of Delhi of inflating dues worth Rs 8,000 crore.The report, a copy of which is with dna, states that the Delhi discoms BSES Rajdhani Power Limited (BRPL), BSES Yamuna Power Limited (BYPL) along with Uttar Pradesh Power Company Limited, Power Distribution Department, J&K and Bihar State Electricity Board have failed to clear dues of National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC), Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited (SJVN)and Tehri Hydro Power Complex (THDC), which has compounded to a whopping Rs 4112.49 crore in 2014-15, as against Rs 397.95 crore in 2009-10.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>This is despite the fact that hydro power is sold much cheaper than thermal power as the latter requires continuous supply of coal. The average market price of hydro power is Rs 2.25 to Rs2.50 per unit as against the average price of thermal power which ranges from Rs 3.80 to Rs 4.50 or even more.The CAG report also states that Delhi’s three discoms namely BRPL, BYPL and Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited (TPDDL) had not executed fresh agreements with hydropower CPSEs like NHPC, SJVN and THDC (only for BYPL) even though Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission had allocated the power generated from them to the discoms.The report warns that the power supply situation in the capital could take a serious hit if the Hydro CPSEs execute the provisions of Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (Regulations of Power Supply), 2010, which empowers them to reduce the power drawing schedule of defaulting beneficiaries in the light of the dues to be recovered from discoms/State Electricity Boards.Defending their stance, a spokesperson from BSES said they are owed Rs 10,000 crore by both its discoms which the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) had also admitted in its affidavit to the Supreme Court.”With the true-up for FY 14 and FY15, total money owed to BSES discoms is around Rs. 20,000 crore. When these amounts are cleared, dues to power utilities will be paid appropriately,” the spokesperson said.Talking about the delay in execution of fresh agreements with the hydro CPSEs, the spokesperson informed that some Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) have recently expired, hence and that the BSES discoms are in discussions for their renewal on terms and conditions that would be beneficial for the Delhi consumers. “As per regulation, DERC approval is required for extension of PPAs on merit,” the spokesperson said.Similarly, a statement from TPDDL stated, “TPDDL continues to procure power from the stations of SJVNL and NHPC on the same terms and conditions as were present in the PPAs signed by erstwhile DVB/DTL. TPDDL has been pursuing SJVNL/NHPC for signing of supplementary agreement on same terms and conditions and their response/ signing of PPA is still awaited.”In the last few years, the cumulative dues of all the three Delhi discoms have compounded to nearly 30,000 crore. They suffered a big blow in September when the DERC in September refusing to hike power tariff rates till March 2016.In financial year 2014-15, the revenue gap for BRPL stands at Rs1,507crore, while in 2013-14, it stood at Rs837 crore. For BYPL, the revenue gap amount for 2014-15 stands at Rs1,020 crore and for 2013-14, it was Rs1,126 crore.According to industry experts on power, Delhi gets nearly 100% of its power from Central and State power generating stations like NTPC, which turns out to be more expensive as compared to other cities.“The cost of buying power for Delhi’s discoms has increased by around 300% while around 85% of the total discom cost is for purchasing power. After their privatisation, the discoms are unable to buy power at a lower rate, because of the long-term PPAs with power generators. Even DERC has not increased power tariff resulting in increased regulatory assets for the discoms,” a power expert said.Sources said the only option that can be availed by the debt-ridden discoms is the latest UDAY scheme announced by the central government that is aimed at easing the financial crunch faced discoms all over the country.Former power secretary Anil Razdan said it is important for discoms to carry out 100 per cent metering and reduce AT&C (aggregate technical and commercial) losses to decrease their revenue losses.

PM Modi reviews progress of Kishanganga Hydro Electric Project

PM reviewed the Resettlement and Rehabilitation Plan prepared by the state government for the project affected families

Prime Minister Narendra Modi

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday reviewed the progress of the 330 MW Kishanganga Hydro Electric Project, especially the Resettlement and Rehabilitation Plan prepared by the state government for the project affected families, officials said here.The Prime Minister held his monthly review meeting via video-conference under his Pro-active Governance and Timely Implementation (PRAGATI) initiative, with Union Secretaries of various Ministries and Chief Secretaries of states, an official spokesman said here.He said Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary B R Sharma participated in the meeting.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>The Prime Minister in respect of the state reviewed further progress on the 330 MW Kishanganga Hydro Electric Project and the Resettlement and Rehabilitation Plan prepared by the state government for the project affected families, the spokesman said.He said the chief secretary briefed the Prime Minister about the overall progress of the project and the status of the R&R Plan.”The revised R&R Plan for the project has been finalised and is ready to be placed before the next state cabinet meeting for its consideration and approval,” Sharma informed the Prime Minister.The Prime Minister also reviewed the progress with respect to Aadhaar enrollment in the states, urging the Chief Secretaries to ensure early linking of services to citizens with the Aadhaar based system and to start the process immediately, the spokesman said.

Uchimura claims record sixth all-around world title | Reuters

GLASGOW When Kohei Uchimura capped a high-flying horizontal bar routine with a perfect landing on Friday, he instantly held up six fingers to the crowd confident that he had just won a record sixth all-around title at the gymnastics world championships.

The Japanese hero did not even bother to hang around for the judges’ verdict to begin his celebrations, urging the crowd with both hands to cheer louder.

When his score of 15.100 flashed up, it confirmed the victory and showed his margin of success over surprise Cuban silver medallist Manrique Larduet was 1.634 points after the Japanese amassed a combined 92.332 points across six apparatus.

“Winning today was totally different from my other victories because this is the first time I have won an all-around gold after winning the team title, so that I why I was so happy after the competition today,” Uchimura said after being given a standing ovation by the Hydro Arena crowd.

While Uchimura picked up a ninth gold at the worlds, taking his overall medals tally to 18, Larduet reduced his coach to tears after becoming the first Cuban to win an all-around medal at the global meet.

The 19-year-old had qualified only in seventh place for the final but after Britain’s Max Whitlock dropped out of contention to win a second successive silver medal following a crash landing off the horizontal bar, the Cuban kept his wits in the final rotation to finish second.

China’s Deng Shudi fought back from eighth place at the half-way point of the competition to claim bronze — his country’s first medal in the individual event since Yang Wei won the second of his golds in 2007.

“This medal proves the important role I have in the Chinese team,” Deng, who sports a massive scar on his right cheek, said.

But it is Uchimura who is leaving an indelible mark on the sport.

FINALLY HIT TARGET

The 26-year-old, who was left fuming after falling during his floor exercise in qualifying and then again from the horizontal bar in the men’s team final, finally hit his target of six clean routines in Glasgow.

Five of his programmes broke the 15-point mark, with the judges deeming his performance on the rings was not quite as good as the rest of his impressive bodywork.

But that was the only blemish for Uchimura who captured his second gold medal of the championships after helping Japan to their first team title in 37 years two days ago.

“I wanted to win the all-around title without any mistakes so I left out a few difficult elements today,” he said. “I wanted to produce a perfected performance.”

Uchimura has now bagged every Olympic and world all-around title since taking silver at the 2008 Beijing Games, a streak unmatched in gymnastics history. No other man or woman has won more than three world all-around titles.

When Uchimura won his fifth straight all-around gold at the 2014 worlds by 1.492 points, it raised hopes among the chasing pack that they might finally be closing the gap on the Japanese great as it was his smallest margin of victory at the worlds.

But on Friday, he again showed they were no closer to beating him any time soon and he will be favourite to become the first man to win back-to-back Olympic titles in Rio next year since his compatriot Sawao Kato achieved the feat in 1972.

(Reporting by Pritha Sarkar; Editing by Ken Ferris/Mark Lamport-Stokes)

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