BSES must pay outstanding dues to NTPC by 31 May: Govt

Delhi government on Friday issued strict instructions against the Reliance-owned power distribution companies BSES Yamuna Power Limited and BSES Rajdhani Limited will have to pay outstanding bill to National Thermal Power Limited (NTPC) till 31 May. 

There will be no bail out to Reliance’s discoms and non-payment of dues and also the power outages will be not tolerated at any cost.

Delhi Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung took review meetings of principal Secretaries, Secretaries and HODs of all departments.

A few days ago, the Supreme Court had asked BSES (Yamuna and Rajdhani) to pay their current dues to NTPC by 31 May. If the both discoms are not pay the dues, NTPC will stop power supply to both of them.

Delhi government official said that the decision was taken in the meeting that power distribution companies must pay outstanding bills worth Rs 788 crore at any cost. 

The government will not pay heed to any excuse regarding power cuts after 31 May.

NTPC supplies 1959 MW to both discoms and both companies distribute power to East, West-South and part of Central Delhi.

BSES Rajdhani distributes power to cover 18.5 lakh consumers in South and West Delhi, while BSES Yamuna covers 14.5 lakh consumers in East and Central Delhi.

It is a fact that the both the discoms are known to default on payment to many generation companies and even the Delhi government backed Transco Limited and IPGCL. 

About 259 MW to BYPL has been curtailed by Sutlej Jal Vidhyut Nigam Limited and Damodar Valley and current dues to Delhi generation companies.

The BSES has always blamed low tariffs and the non-payment of dues by the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) and the Delhi government for their inability to pay the NTPC.