Lucknow, Feb 10 (KNN) While the major contending parties are assuring 24X7 power supply with different verbiages, the real situation is really gloomy, at least for the small business.

The power companies of the state are suffering huge losses due to rampant power theft, poor quality equipment and rampant corruption promoted by a highly inefficient administration.

And the MSMEs of the state bear the brunt of these inefficiencies both as consumers and suppliers.

The small businesses including the MSMEs in UP are charged more than ` 2.50 per unit over and above the actual cost of distribution just to subsidise the other electricity consumers.

With this nearly 30% additional tariff burden how the MSMEs will  be viable in the state is any bodies guess.

MSMEs need continuous supply of power for at least 5-6 hours for uninterrupted production and any disruption causes loss of material and worker time.

But in U P there is no industrial cluster or area which does not suffer from unscheduled power cuts.

As the supplier of power equipment like transformers and transmission cables MSMEs supplier are also discriminated.

While the MSMEs supplying quality products are debarred by various means, the unscrupulous traders flourish under the tutelage of a section of the administration.

So bursting transformers and tripped power lines are regular features of the power scenario of the state.

No wonder the  power distribution companies of the state carry an accumulated loss of over Rs. 70,000 crore and outstanding debt of Rs. 50, 000 crore.

With this background how it will be possible for the electricity companies to procure quality equipment as must be required to provide 24x7 power supply??

The political parties may also be overlooking the fact that the power companies of U P do not maintain any asset register. In other words they do not know what transformers or switches are lying where and at what condition.

They also do not follow double entry book keeping an accounting system globally accepted for the reasons best known to the authorities.

The repeated pleas of the MSMEs to the state power authorities and regulators for the solution of the glaring deficiencies in the power sector have so far evoked any action.

The industries associations of the state led by FISME had also approached the central power Minister to address the above issues particularly to bring in a semblance of accounting discipline in the power companies of U P.

But it appears the problem is too big for any political authority to address. (KNN/ DB)