By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, December 4, 2024: Four electricity distribution companies (discoms) owe whopping Rs 6,587 crore to the Odisha government, Odisha Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo on Wednesday said.

Making a statement in the state Assembly, Singh Deo, who also holds the portfolio of the Energy Department, informed that among the four companies, CESU has the highest outstanding dues at Rs 2,651 crore.

NESCO has not paid back Rs 951 crore, WESCO owes Rs 1,677 crore, and SOUTHCO owes the state worth Rs 1,300 crore. All of these power distribution companies are now under Tata Power, which now runs CESU as TPCODL, NESCO as TPNODL, WESCO as TPWODL, and SOUTCHO as TPSODL.

The Deputy CM however stated that GRIDCO is actively addressing these dues with the new management at Tata Power and is taking steps to settle the dues. The startling figures that were shared in the Assembly came in the wake of several incidents of protests against power distribution companies in several parts of the state over various alleged issues.

Incidentally, about two days back, locals from a slum near the Aurobindo Nagar area in Bhubaneswar staged a demonstration and gheraoed the electricity office demanding the restoration of power that was reportedly disconnected for the past five days. The matter was resolved following the intervention of Chief Minister Mohan Majhi.