By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, November 24, 2017: Anil Ambani owned Reliance Infrastructure on Friday received a huge blow with the Supreme Court rejecting its plea for withdrawing license cancellation order of three power distribution companies [Discoms] in Odisha – Wesco, Nesco and Southco.

The three companies, managed by Reliance Infrastructure, had moved the Apex Court challenging the order of Appellate Tribunal for Electricity which had upheld Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission (OERC)’s order to cancel the licences of Wesco, Nesco and Southco.

OERC had cancelled the licences of three power distribution companies (discoms) Nesco, Wesco and Southco on March 4, 2015 citing unsatisfactory performance.

Subsequently, the management of three companies was handed over to Grid Corporation of Odisha (Gridco), which holds 49% stake in the companies, appointing Gridco’s chairman and managing director Hemant Sharma as the administrator of the discoms.

The three Discoms had challenged the cancellation order before the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity seeking stay and withdrawal order. However, the later had upheld the OERC’s decision.