HP seeks time for trifurcation of electricity board

At a high-level meeting between Himachal Chief Secretary and Union Secretary for Power, the situation that has emerged after the recent cancellation of the Transmission Utility License of HP State Electricity Board was discussed in detail.

At a high-level meeting between Himachal Chief Secretary and Union Secretary for Power, the situation that has emerged after the recent cancellation of the Transmission Utility License of HP State Electricity Board (HPSEB) was discussed in detail.

Chief Secretary-cum-Chairman HPSEB Asha Swarup and RK Jain, who holds additional charge of Secretary Power attended the meeting.

Sources say Himachal put forth its arguments on the issue. The state has sought additional time for trifurcation of HPSEB into transmission, distribution and generation wings. The Centre has asked the state to prepare full documents in this regard, and its strategy for the purpose.

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Talking to The Indian Express on phone, Jain said, “We met Union Secretary Power and held detailed discussions on the issue. I cannot say what will be the outcome of these deliberations.”

The state has been demanding extension till March 2009 for undertaking trifurcation of HPSEB. Meanwhile, the Centre has cancelled the Deemed Transmission Utility License.

The question that arises is that if HPSEB was allotted extension till March 2009, why was the license cancelled. The Centre has been asking the state to trifurcate HPSEB and has been granting repeated extensions for the purpose.