The Hindu : Plan to privatise discoms stands, says Transco chief

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, May 06, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh-Hyderabad

Plan to privatise discoms stands, says Transco chief

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD MAY 5. The CMD of AP Transco, P. Ramakantha Reddy, on Sunday announced the Government decision to privatise the four distribution companies or allow them to work as joint ventures with the Government share with full autonomy. In either case, the aim was to improve efficiency and serve the consumer better. He was speaking at a press conference held in connection with the extension of the term of four Transco directors. He allayed the fears among the staff on their service conditions.

The Joint MD, Dinesh Kumar, directors for Transmission, Commercial, Finance, M. Gopalachary, P.M.K. Gandhi, S.M. Yousuf Ali respectively, the Chief General Manager for Grid Operation, V. Sivaprasada Rao, and a central discom director in-charge for reforms, C. Ramamohana Rao, were also present.

The CMD made it clear that job security would be ensured even in case of privatisation. About the options sought from the staff , Mr. Ramakantha Reddy and Mr. Dinesh Kumar said the employees, who were above the rank of assistant engineer, numbering 8,250 out of the 56,000 employees of the AP Genco, AP Transco and discoms, were asked to indicate their options. This was being done as part of the Tripartite Agreement signed in 1997. The option forms would be given to the marked staff up to May 7 for their submission before June-end.

The CMD explained that if anyone from the state-cadre staff did not indicate the option for any reason, the high-level committee, which was headed by himself and consisting of the CMDs of AP Genco and discoms, would post him/her wherever there was slot and exigency. If any employees felt aggrieved under the option process, the lapse could be immediately brought to the notice of the committee which would rectify the same.

Mr. Reddy and Mr. Dinesh Kumar ruled out options to all the 57,000 employees on the ground that working out of the common seniority for all of them at this juncture was not possible.

Mr. Dinesh Kumar disputed with the Joint Action Committee's figure of 16,000 vacancies in the six entities saying there were 9,000 O & M vacant posts apart from 600 of the AEs and 150 of ADEs.

All of them, however, would be filled soon. On the controversial issue of the entities not putting any funds under the 13 trusts formed for disbursement of terminal benefits like pension and gratuity, Mr. Ramamohana Rao said that Rs. 71.28 crores was deposited and Transco alone contributed Rs 5.85 crores out of the amount.

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