New Delhi, Apr 11 (KNN) Harried with the sorry state of Power Sector in Uttar Pradesh in the past, the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) have pinned hopes on the Yogi Adityanath Government to give them a fair hearing and help the sector revive.

The Federation of Indian Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (FISME), the apex body for MSME associations across the country, has sought appointment from Shrikant Sharma, the new Power Minister of UP, for discussion about improving Power Sector in the state.

In a letter to Sharma, FISME said, “You would have known it by now first-hand that the Power sector in UP is in a dismal condition. Your promise of availability of power 24x7 is needed to be redeemed not only for saving millions of people from drudgery of extremes of weather in absence of electricity but even more importantly, for reviving business and industry for creation of jobs for millions of unemployed army of youth in the state.”

FISME- the national body of MSMEs, have been studying the issues of power and following power sector reforms for decades.

FISME had earlier floated Energywatch which took up cases related to power sector reforms both at the level of Regulator as well as higher courts. The industry body had also filed detailed objections before UPERC against ARR 2016-17.

“However, the earlier regime never aroused sufficient confidence in us to have a serious dialogue to improve power sector in the state.  But we have sincere hope that the present Government will take up the cudgels to discipline the DISCOMs and effect much needed power sector reforms,” the letter added.

A small delegation of FISME has urged the Minister to meet them in order to address their woes.

Meanwhile, it may be recalled that FISME had earlier approached Union Power Minister Piyush Goyal in December last year highlighting the need to study compliance of Orders issued by ERCs to improve DISCOMS.

The industry body had suggested that a department may be created within Ministry of Power to study the Orders/ directions issued the ERCs to the DISCOMs to improve their working.

“Most surprisingly the DISCOMs do not act on the directives of the ERC and just keep on promising to implement their directives year on year. The ERCs remain mute spectators to the gross violations of their directives.

It is our suggestion that once the “department” in the MoP starts studying the directions and asking for ATR from DISCOMs a sense of urgency shall be built around the issues. There is no doubt if the subjects are addressed comprehensively, many desirable improvements will come about in the system,” FISME said.

The industry has been highlighting that the directions issued by UPERC over the years have been flouted year after year. But, despite several efforts, the power sector in the state saw no improvement in the decades. (KNN Bureau)