Despite a continuous power crisis in the state, there is no progress on the Expensive Power Purchase Scheme (EPPS) which has been conceived to help the industrial sector get access to power. The power utilities have not come up with a proposal even after 10 months of continuous power shortages.
The scheme is aimed at bailing out industries, but only a handful of big industries that can afford to buy power at any cost will benefit. Industry organisations say that the large industries are in much worse shape than small and medium industries and need the scheme badly.
Thirty per cent of the power-starved big industries have given a blanket approval to the state government’s EPPC scheme without having a clue about the pricing. About 35 companies responded during the Central Discom’s consultations with the industrial sector earlier this year and expressed interest in purchasing 125 MW under the scheme. Even today, the industrial sector has no idea about the pricing policy.
Mr Devendra Surana. president of the Federation of Andhra Pradesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FAPCCI), said: “The power utilities have grossly mismanaged the power situation. Despite knowing well in advance that the power crisis in the state will continue till the end of June, power was tied up till May only.” Mr Surana said that there was no progress on the EPPS scheme, and that the industry was not even aware of any proposal in this regard. “Power intensive units in the state are in a big trouble and there is absolutely no expansion of the industrial sector,” he stressed.