Power employees’ body questions Rs 1.3cr payment to AIDA by UPPCL, 5 discoms | Lucknow News
Lucknow: The Vidyut Karamchari Samyukta Sangharsh Samiti (VKSSS), Uttar Pradesh, has raised concerns over a payment of Rs 1.3 crore made by Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Ltd (UPPCL) and its five distribution companies to All-India Discom Association (AIDA), a newly formed body.According to the committee, the payment was made on June 3, 2025, under the heads of membership and corpus contributions, even as UPPCL continues to advocate for privatizing electricity distribution, citing financial losses. The Samiti, led by chairman Shailendra Dubey, has questioned the rationale behind such a substantial financial commitment to this newly formed association.The committee alleged that the transaction was the part of a broader strategy influenced by corporate interests aiming to privatize power distribution nationwide. It pointed out that AIDA’s director general is a retired IAS officer who had previously served as the Union power secretary and UPPCL chairman. The association reportedly includes 39 distribution companies, suggesting that similar contributions from each could result in a multi-crore corpus.The Samiti demanded a high-level investigation into AIDA’s formation and funding and urged Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to intervene. It also demanded the resignation or removal of the UPPCL chief from the role of general secretary of AIDA due to a conflict of interest.The Samiti claimed that AIDA was operating a parallel administrative structure within power corporations and actively promoting privatization. It cited the appointment of a private sector representative as AIDA’s treasurer as evidence of corporate influence.A detailed financial breakdown reveals that UPPCL paid Rs 21.8 lakh, while each of the five distribution companies — Purvanchal, Dakshinchal, Pashchimanchal, Madhyanchal, and Kesco —contributed the same amount, totaling Rs 1.3 crore. The Samiti questioned whether these payments received prior approval from the UP State Electricity Regulatory Commission.“If not, this financial burden could unfairly affect consumers. UPPCL claims to be running at a loss and has reduced contractual staff to save money. Yet, funds are being diverted to a private association for reasons known only to them,” Dubey said.The Samiti claims AIDA was formed last Nov, a day after a ‘distribution utility meet’ was held at a private hotel in Lucknow.
