AST MONTH (DECEMBER 2, 2024), the apex court ruled in favour of the government's intent to privatise the power distribution business in Chandigarh. The Supreme Court, in its verdict, decided not to interfere in the ruling of the High Court of Punjab and Haryana, which had upheld the decision of the government of India to privatise.
The central government had announced in 2021 its plans to privatise the distribution business in all Union Territories (UTs), currently being undertaken by their respective power departments. The ball has been set in motion in all the UTs, and the first success was in Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu where a well-known private utility took over in 2022. In all the other UTs, the matter is being pursued, although in the case of Puducherry it has gone to litigation just like Chandigarh.
Privatisation of the power distribution business is a very old story in India, with Odisha being the first state to take this step way back in 1997, followed up by another round in 2020. After Odisha, complete privatisation across the entire geographical area of a state has only taken place in Delhi. There are, of course, some stray private utilities operating in many cities—for example, in Mumbai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Surat, Noida, etc. Privatisation of the distribution business has always been a very tricky problem because of the resistance it has faced, mainly from the existing employees of incumbent utilities which are all government entities.
This story is from the January 09, 2025 edition of Financial Express Delhi.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the January 09, 2025 edition of Financial Express Delhi.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Chants meet chatbots at this year's Maha Kumbh
FROM INFORMATION TO SECURITY, AI TO BE MAJOR MOVER AT THE MEGA EVENT
Trump tariffs: Auto suppliers rethink production plans
Trump has vowed to impose a blanket tariff of 10% on global imports into the US and a 60% tariff on Chinese goods
Premium online video market to double by 2028: Report
INDIA'S PREMIUM ONLINE video market, valued at $1.7 billion in 2023, is projected to nearly double by 2028, solidifying its position as one of the fastest-growing over-the-top (OTT) markets globally, according to the Asia Video Industry Report 2025.
RBI governor seeks to improve forecasting
Two of the sources Reuters spoke to said the RBI would look to increase datasets required to gauge trends in income and expenditure better.
Meta's fact-checking snub in US alarms India
As Meta announced the end of its third-party fact-check programme in the US, a move that is being seen as the company reorienting itself for the new Trump era, a palpable sense of panic has gripped fact-checkers in India.
TCS profit rises 4% in Q3
AMONG VERTICALS, ENERGY, resources and utilities grew by 3.4%, and consumer business gained 1.1%.
Taliban Urges India to Ease Visa Process
First High-Level Meet
Hollywood Hills burn as big blaze engulfs LA
THE HOLLYWOOD HILLS blazed uncontrollably on Thursday morning as the worst wildfires in the history of Los Angeles raged across the city and deep into the storied heartland of the American film industry.
Hush money: Court rejects Trump bid to delay sentencing
NEW YORK'S TOP court rejected on Thursday Donald Trump's request to halt the president-elect's sentencing for his conviction on criminal charges stemming from hush money paid to a porn star, with a decision on a possible delay now in the hands of the President-elect.
Biden to further limit Nvidia AI chip exports in final push
PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN'S administration plans one additional round of restrictions on the export of artificial intelligence chips from the likes of Nvidia just days before leaving office, a final push in his effort to keep advanced technologies out of the hands of China and Russia.
