Bidyut Sramik Karmachari Sangh flays Southco
Staff Reporter Hindu

BERHAMPUR: Activists of the ‘Berhampur Bidyut Sramik Karmachari Sangh’ alleged that the power distribution company, Southco was trying to provide profit to companies outside the State by exploiting its consumers.

Southco, a unit of the ‘Reliance Energy’ is in charge of power distribution in south Orissa. The members of the union made this allegation at their conference held under the chairmanship of its working president Bhubaneswar Rao. The members of the union alleged that in the era of privatization, consumers had become the scapegoat. According to them they had to face the wrath of consumers due to wrong policies of the private company. As per these workers the Southco authorities were not making proper investment for the maintenance of power distribution system.

Mr Rao alleged corruption in the tender by Southco for spot billing and installation of new power meters. According to him a firm of Gurgaon was shown undue favour to be given the contract at higher cost. Similarly the electricity meter installation charge has also been hiked from Rs 50 to Rs 350 and its contract has also gone to a firm of Gurgaon. The union members demanded an investigation to find out why firms from outside the state were being provided contracts at higher cost for which the consumers would have to pay extra money. The union also threatened to take up agitation to protect the right of consumers of the Southco.