Engineers' federation asks govt to put discom privatisation on hold

19 Apr 2021 CW Staff

The All India Power Engineers Federation (AIPEF) has urged the government to put on hold the privatisation of electricity distribution companies (discoms).

AIPEF told the media that the government must put on hold the privatisation of electricity distribution and stop entrusting the electricity departments of union territories (UTs) to private enterprises.

The federation mentioned that neither the draft Electricity Amendment Bill 2021 nor the standard bidding document has been finalised, but the UTs of Chandigarh and Dadra Nagar Haveli are moving rapidly towards the privatisation of their electricity departments.

The standard bid documents for privatising electricity discoms were put on the Ministry of Power's (MoP) website on 22 September 2020, and were to be applied across the country.

The ministry has stated that the standard bid documents have still not been finalised, claimed AIPEF. The federation pointed out that this puts a question on the entire bidding process of UTs privatisation process.

While in Chandigarh, the bidding was for 100% equity, in Dadra Nagar Haveli, it was for 51%. There is confusion and uncertainty in overbidding the process itself, it claimed.

AIPEF said that in the case of Dadra Nagar Haveli, the bids had been opened, and Torrent had claimed to have won the bid with the highest offer of Rs 555 lakh against a reserve price of Rs 150 lakh.

The Bombay High Court has stayed the further process in case of a PIL filed before it. In the case of UT Chandigarh, the technical bids were opened on March 18, but the opening of financial bids is awaited.

The UT Power Union had challenged the bidding before Punjab Haryana High Court, and the next date of hearing is April 29, it said. The draft amendment bill 2021 has been circulated to the selected few in the month of February, and the power ministry held a discussion on the proposals with all the state power secretaries and CMDs of discom and regulators, stated AIPEF.

Image Source

Also read: NITI Aayog lists 12 PSUs for privatisation

Also read: Ministry of Power: Discoms owe Rs 12.3k cr to RE companies

"Join industry leaders at RAHSTA Expo, India's premier platform for roads, highways and traffic infrastructure. Register now to explore innovations, network with experts and shape the future of mobility."

The All India Power Engineers Federation (AIPEF) has urged the government to put on hold the privatisation of electricity distribution companies (discoms). AIPEF told the media that the government must put on hold the privatisation of electricity distribution and stop entrusting the electricity departments of union territories (UTs) to private enterprises. The federation mentioned that neither the draft Electricity Amendment Bill 2021 nor the standard bidding document has been finalised, but the UTs of Chandigarh and Dadra Nagar Haveli are moving rapidly towards the privatisation of their electricity departments. The standard bid documents for privatising electricity discoms were put on the Ministry of Power's (MoP) website on 22 September 2020, and were to be applied across the country. The ministry has stated that the standard bid documents have still not been finalised, claimed AIPEF. The federation pointed out that this puts a question on the entire bidding process of UTs privatisation process. While in Chandigarh, the bidding was for 100% equity, in Dadra Nagar Haveli, it was for 51%. There is confusion and uncertainty in overbidding the process itself, it claimed. AIPEF said that in the case of Dadra Nagar Haveli, the bids had been opened, and Torrent had claimed to have won the bid with the highest offer of Rs 555 lakh against a reserve price of Rs 150 lakh. The Bombay High Court has stayed the further process in case of a PIL filed before it. In the case of UT Chandigarh, the technical bids were opened on March 18, but the opening of financial bids is awaited. The UT Power Union had challenged the bidding before Punjab Haryana High Court, and the next date of hearing is April 29, it said. The draft amendment bill 2021 has been circulated to the selected few in the month of February, and the power ministry held a discussion on the proposals with all the state power secretaries and CMDs of discom and regulators, stated AIPEF. Image Source Also read: NITI Aayog lists 12 PSUs for privatisation Also read: Ministry of Power: Discoms owe Rs 12.3k cr to RE companies

Infrastructure Urban

02 Jun 2026

VECV Sales Rise 7.8 Per Cent In May 2026

VE Commercial Vehicles recorded sales of 7,978 units in May 2026, compared to 7,401 units in May 2025, registering growth of 7.8 per cent. This included 7,789 units from the Eicher brand and 189 units from the Volvo brand.Eicher branded trucks and buses reported sales of 7,789 units during the month, up 7.3 per cent from 7,258 units a year earlier. In the domestic commercial vehicle market, Eicher sales rose 9.1 per cent to 7,375 units from 6,758 units in May 2025.Exports declined 17.2 per cent to 414 units from 500 units in the corresponding month last year. Volvo Trucks and Volvo Buses recor..

Infrastructure Urban

02 Jun 2026

Table Space Strengthens DESYN Leadership Team

Table Space has announced strategic leadership appointments within DESYN, its integrated Design and Build business, as it looks to strengthen operations across key enterprise and GCC markets in India. DESYN was launched as a strategic extension of Table Space’s workspace solutions portfolio to meet rising demand for agile, high-quality and rapidly deployable enterprise workspaces.Shruti Ookabhoy has joined DESYN as Executive Director and will lead the Design vertical, focusing on design capability, operational excellence and team development across markets. She brings over 22 years of experi..

Infrastructure Transport

02 Jun 2026

Concord Associate Bags Rs 2.79 Bn Kavach Order

Concord Control Systems said its associate company, Progota India, has received a Rs 2.79 bn domestic order from Indian Railways for the supply, installation, testing and commissioning of on-board Kavach 4.0 loco equipment.The order is scheduled for execution within 12 months and strengthens Concord’s role in India’s railway safety and signalling ecosystem. Kavach is India’s indigenous automatic train protection system, designed to improve operational safety by helping prevent signal passing at danger and reducing collision risks.Gaurav Lath, Joint Managing Director, Concord Control Syst..