Chandigarh, July 18 2024 : Union Minister for Power and Urban Affairs, Sh. Manohar Lal, unveiled the book Wired for Success by Haryana Director General of Police, Sh. Shatrujeet Kapur, at a ceremony held at New Maharashtra Sadan. Justice D.K. Sharma of the Delhi High Court graced the event as the Guest of Honour. The book offers a comprehensive account of Haryana’s transformation of its power sector from substantial losses to remarkable profitability.
During the launch, Union Power Minister Sh. Manohar Lal reflected on his tenure beginning in 2014, describing the severe challenges faced by Haryana’s power companies. At that time, only 105 villages had 24-hour electricity, and outstanding bills had surpassed Rs. 7,000 crore. Non-payment of electricity bills was prevalent in rural areas. However, substantial reforms under his administration, including the UDAY scheme, addressed these issues.
Sh. Lal detailed the reforms led by Sh. Shatrujeet Kapur, who was appointed as the CMD of the state’s DISCOMs. Under Kapur’s leadership, Haryana’s power companies met their targets two years ahead of schedule. The reforms included ensuring 24-hour electricity for villages that paid their bills and implementing a bill settlement scheme. Today, over 5,800 villages in Haryana benefit from continuous electricity.
The Minister emphasized the significant challenge of combating electricity theft, noting that Haryana succeeded in making power companies profitable without raising tariffs. Financially, the state’s DISCOMs reported profits of Rs. 412 crore in 2017-18, Rs. 281 crore in 2018-19, Rs. 331 crore in 2019-20, and Rs. 637 crore in 2020-21. By 2021, AT&C losses had dropped to 17 percent, and the agricultural subsidy was reduced from Rs. 7,600 crore to under Rs. 6,000 crore.
The integration of renewable energy exceeding 3,600 MW and significant conservation measures were also highlighted. The UDAY scheme, introduced nationwide in 2015 and adopted by Haryana in 2016, aimed to reduce line losses and deficits, with Haryana achieving its goals ahead of schedule.
Sh. Lal praised Wired for Success for its detailed narrative of Haryana’s power sector reforms, recommending that central enterprises and training institutions study Haryana’s successful models. He suggested translating the book into other languages to reach a wider audience.
In his remarks, Sh. Shatrujeet Kapur credited Sh. Manohar Lal’s leadership for the transformative success of Haryana’s power sector. He highlighted initiatives like a merit-based transfer policy and new SOPs to combat electricity theft. The bill settlement scheme resolved Rs. 7,000 crore in outstanding bills and provided over 1.7 million new connections.
Justice D.K. Sharma commended Sh. Kapur for his steadfast leadership and the successful turnaround of Haryana’s power companies, setting a national benchmark for efficiency and profitability. The event celebrated the significant achievements and visionary leadership that have made Haryana’s power sector a model of success.
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