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Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
'Electricity theft' case: Allahabad HC orders restoration of power supply at Sambhal MP Barq's home; calls Rs 1.91 crore fine 'arbitrary'
Zia Ur Rehman Barq (File photo) NEW DELHI: The Allahabad high court has directed the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Ltd (UPPCL) to restore power supply at the house of Samajwadi Party 's (SP) Lok Sabha member from Sambhal, Zia Ur Rehman Barq. A division bench of justices Saumitra Dayal Singh and Sandeep Jain, passed the order on a writ petition by Barq in the electricity theft case . It also described as "arbitrary," UPPCL's Rs 1.91 crore fine on the SP leader over allegations of electricity theft. "Submission is that even if the inspection report and adverse facts allegedly found therein are accepted, no jurisdiction arose with the respondent authorities to make assessment for a period of 12 years," the court observed in its June 4 order, according to news agency PTI. "The maximum period for which assessment may have been made could not exceed one year. By breaching the statutory period of assessment, wholly unnatural and arbitrary demand of Rs 1 crore and 91 lakhs has been raised. The petitioner cannot be made to deposit 50% of such illegal demand to maintain an appeal," it added. However, the bench asked Barq to deposit a permissible amount of Rs. 6 lakhs to maintain his appeal, giving him two weeks to do so. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trading CFD dengan Teknologi dan Kecepatan Lebih Baik IC Markets Mendaftar Undo Through his lawyer, he submitted he is willing to deposit the money. The court then granted UPPCL three weeks to file its reply in the matter and fixed the next hearing for July 2. In December 2024, the electricity department imposed the penalty on Barq following an inspection at his residence in Sambhal's Deepa Sarai area, where officials allegedly discovered the power theft. Separately, the politician faces charges of inciting violence in Sambhal during protests related to a court-ordered survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid in November last year.
Hindustan Times
31-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
UPPCL denies favouritism, calls allegations ‘baseless'
The Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Ltd (UPPCL) and its employees' union are locked in a fresh face-off over the selection of Grant Thornton as a consultant for power sector reforms, with the management dismissing allegations of irregularities as 'misleading and baseless'. While the UPPCL said no decision had yet been taken on a separate September 2024 tender aimed at improving financial accounting standards at the division level, the Vidyut Karmachari Sanyukt Sangharsh Samiti alleged that the process was deliberately delayed to favour Grant Thornton. It was alleged that despite no final decision, the firm had advertised accountant positions in December 2024, mentioning work locations across multiple U.P. discoms. The committee alleged a 'major scam' in the name of privatisation and demanded the sacking of UPPCL director (finance) SK Narang, accusing him of colluding with private firms. It also questioned why the September 2024 tender, in which Grant Thornton reportedly emerged L1 in technical bidding, was kept on hold for months. Responding to the charges, Narang, in a written statement, said the tender in question was unrelated to the reforms consultancy and aimed purely at improving accounting quality under Ind-AS norms. 'Both tenders serve distinct purposes and no decision has been taken yet. All actions are in line with due process,' he said.
Hindustan Times
26-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Farming meets solar in U.P's clean energy drive
In a significant step towards promoting clean energy, Uttar Pradesh has issued letters of agreement (LoAs) to over 100 developers for establishing solar power plants with a combined capacity of more than 1,527 MW aimed at supplying solar power to agriculture feeders. These solar power plants will be set up under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthan Mahabhiyaan (PM KUSUM) C-2 scheme. The initiative targets solarisation of approximately 5,000 agriculture feeders, ensuring eight hours of uninterrupted daytime power supply to tubewells/pump-sets for irrigation. The UP Power Corporation Ltd (UPPCL) has already segregated around 80% of the agriculture feeders from the domestic ones for assured and reliable power supply for fixed eight hours for irrigation. 'The UP government has fixed the target of generating 2,000 MW of solar power under KUSUM C-2 by 2027 and against it we have already issued LoAs for more than 1,51,527.2 MW of solar power to over 100 developers who will set up solar plants adjacent to the identified sub-stations catering to separate agriculture feeders,' UPNEDA secretary and chief project officer, Pankaj Singh said. The UPPCL will procure the solar power generated under the scheme for 25 years for ₹2.99 per unit, ensuring stable revenue for developers and long-term income for farmers. 'The scheme provides an opportunity for farmers and landowners to lease barren or unutilised land to solar power developers under pre-fixed agreements. UPNEDA has developed a dedicated online portal where interested farmers can register their land free of cost for leasing. Solar plants can be set up within a 5-10 km radius of identified substations, requiring around four acres per megawatt of capacity,' project officer Rakesh Agrawal said. The financial framework for developers includes a maximum central assistance of ₹1.05 lakh per MW and a state government grant of ₹50 lakh per MW as Viability Gap Funding, totaling ₹1.55 crore per MW. Under the scheme, farmers/ group of farmers/ panchayat / cooperative / Farmer Producers Organization (FPO) and project developers can participate in the tender. Also, under the scheme, farmer's land near the selected substations is to be leased by the selected Solar Power Project Developer for 27 years at a mutually agreed lease rent which will ensure a steady income for the farmers. 'For farmers, the scheme ensures a steady income through land lease payments and reliable daytime solar power for irrigation. Developers benefit from access to land, guaranteed power purchase agreements, and government incentives. DISCOMs gain access to affordable solar power, reducing power purchase costs and AT&C losses, 'Agrawal explained. The developers selected through a competitive bidding process will have six months' time to set up the plant at the identified sites from the date of the letter of agreement.
News18
21-05-2025
- Business
- News18
Power Tariff Likely To Be Hiked By 30% In UP As Revenue Shortfall Hits Rs 19,600 Crore
Last Updated: UPPCL reported that 78.65 lakh consumers have not paid their electricity bills for the past six months, adding to Rs 36,117 crore in outstanding dues The Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) is planning a 30% hike in electricity rates, potentially burdening residents, after reporting a Rs 19,600 crore revenue shortfall to the state's Electricity Regulatory Commission. Electricity tariffs in the state have remained unchanged for nearly five years, leading to a revenue gap that has increased by 12.4%. UPPCL has appealed to the Regulatory Commission, citing an inability to sustain further losses, and has presented data indicating that 54.24 lakh consumers have not paid their bills at all, resulting in an outstanding amount of Rs 36,353 crore. Additionally, the UPPCL stated that 78.65 lakh consumers have not paid their electricity bills for six months, contributing to a further Rs 36,117 crore in outstanding payments. The corporation has urged the commission to make a decision based on these figures, highlighting that in the financial year 2023-24, UPPCL and power companies incurred total expenditures of Rs 107,209 crore while generating revenues of only Rs 67,955 crore, leaving a gap of Rs 39,254 crore. Despite a state government subsidy of Rs 19,494 crore, there remains a revenue shortfall of Rs 5,910 crore. At the same time, UPPCL's cumulative losses has crossed Rs 1.10 lakh crore by March 2024.
Hindustan Times
21-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
‘Data is accurate': UPPCL dismisses allegations about inflated losses as baseless
Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Ltd (UPPCL) has dismissed allegations by 'certain organisations' accusing it of inflating losses in its balance sheet, calling the claims baseless and misleading. Chief engineer (Commercial) DC Verma and chief general manager (Finance) Sachin Goyal in a written counter on Tuesday clarified that all financial data was compiled by field engineers and generated through the Corporation's Revenue Management System and ERP. 'Discrediting data prepared by our own officials is unjustified,' they said. They added that billing and revenue figures were based on actual meter readings and uploaded by executive engineers through secure IDs, limiting chances of tampering. Disciplinary action has been taken in cases of data manipulation. UPPCL also clarified that expenses are recorded online via ERP with no manual override, and the balance sheet is prepared as per accounting standards. It is audited at multiple levels by CAG-appointed auditors, with reports submitted to the CAG, state government, and the Corporation's board. 'The board, which includes representatives from the state government, REC, and PFC, approves all financial figures,' the officials said.
