The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Power regulator cautions Government on advice

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Karnataka - Bangalore

Power regulator cautions Government on advice

Special Correspondent

Commission wants KPTCL MD to shed ESCOM post

KERC plans to move court if advice is not heeded
It wants KPTCL’s stranglehold on ESCOMs to go

BANGALORE: The Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) has decided to caution the State Government that it will approach the Karnataka High Court to settle the issue if it (government) fails to consider its advice for relieving the Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited (KPTCL) managing director from the dual responsibility of the post of chairman of ESCOMs.

The KERC had written to Governor Rameshwar Thakur’s adviser Krishna Kumar on February 21 asking him to immediately relieve the KPTCL managing director from the chairmanship of the ESCOMs.

The KERC had said that such a step would not only go a long way in removing the stranglehold of the KPTCL over ESCOMs, but also help in ensuring independent functioning of these power distribution entities.

However, the Government is yet to respond to the KERC’s advice. Taking exception to this, Mr. Pandey told presspersons on Thursday that the commission would remind the Government that the advice, which has been issued as per the statutory requirements, is binding on it. It would tell the Government that it would approach the High Court so that the court itself could decide whether the advice was binding, and accordingly issue directions to it.

He also pointed out that as per Section 142 of the Electricity Act, there was a provision for the commission to slap a penalty of Rs. 1 lakh and additional penalty of Rs. 6,000 a day on the authorities, who did not follow its direction. “But we do not want to invoke penalty provisions,” he said.

Earlier, the ongoing tussle between the KERC and the government came to fore with Mr. Pandey openly remarking at a public hearing in Bangalore that “the Government is treating the commission like a rival party”

“The Government has not fully accepted the role, duties and responsibilities of the KERC. It is like you entrust a job to a person. But in the end, you do not want him to do his job properly.”

“The commission should not be treated as a rival party by the Government. But we are forced to fight legal battles as the Government is treating us like a rival party,” he said.

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