The private sector energy generation giant Torrent Power Limited (RPL), which has recently bagged the power supply contract for both Agra and Kanpur under franchise module, takes over the power supply of the Taj city thus becoming the first experiment of privatization of power distribution in Uttar Pradesh.

According to official sources, the company had signed MoU with the state government in May this year, but in view of the stiff opposition of the power employees, the government has decided to Agra a test cast and then move to Kanpur. The historic city and district headquarters must get uninterrupted power supply as it falls in the Taj Trapezium Zone and the Supreme Court had directed the state to provide non stop power to the city to save it from the pollution of the mushrooming and roaring generators.

Commenting on the current power scenario in the state, an insider said that the power tariff in the city is Rs. 1.43 per unit whereas T&D losses are 42 per cent. Despite a low revenue recovery, the Torrent has to pay the state government Rs. 1.96 per unit and has pledged to bring power losses down to 15 per cent in the next half decade. The company will strive hard to slash losses and earn profit and for that it needs to spruce up the infrastructure by spending Rs. 200 crore in Agra and Rs. 500 crore in Kanpur and will completely overhaul the system right from billing transmission and distribution, which will go a long way in improving the power supply situation in these areas, he added.