Khattar releases book on Haryana’s power journey

Manohar Lal Khattar, the Union power minister, highlighted the success of electricity reforms in Haryana under his leadership, improving power supply and reducing losses.

Updated on: Jul 19, 2024, 06:36:05 IST

By Leena Dhankhar

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Union power minister Manohar Lal Khattar said that in 2014, only 105 Haryana villages received electricity 24 hours a day, and outstanding bills exceeded ₹7,000 crore, but during his tenure as chief minister, comprehensive reforms were implemented through the Ujjwal Discom Assurance Yojana (Uday) scheme to improve the situation.

Union power minister Manohar Lal Khattar at the event. (HT Photo)

Khattar made the remarks on Wednesday while unveiling the book Wired for Success, authored by Haryana director general of police Shatrujeet Kapur at New Maharashtra Sadan in Delhi.

Before he was posted as Haryana DGP, Kapur previously served as chairman and managing director (CMD) of both Haryana discoms — Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) and Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (UHBVN). His book chronicles the transformation of the discoms from substantial losses to profitability.

Speaking at the event, Khattar said that now, over 5,800 villages in Haryana benefit from continuous power supply, thanks to public meetings and a bill settlement scheme encouraging timely payments. Under Kapur’s leadership, he said, discoms generated significant profits, reduced losses, and decreased the agricultural subsidy from ₹7,600 crore to less than ₹6,000 crore.

Praising Wired for Success for its detailed account of Haryana’s power sector reforms, Khattar recommended it for study by central enterprises and training institutions, and suggested that the book be translated into other languages to reach a broader audience.

Kapur in turn acknowledged Khattar’s leadership, highlighting initiatives like a merit-based transfer policy and a new SOP to curb electricity theft.

Wired for Success delves into the transformative journey that led to DHBVN and UHBVN becoming profitable entities. In it, Kapur outlines the challenges faced upon assuming leadership as CMD of both discoms — rampant power theft, technical losses, administrative bottlenecks, and near insolvency.

He also shares his adopting a holistic view of problem-solving, emphasising the importance of data-driven decision-making, the implementation of robust monitoring systems, and the critical role of employee motivation and customer engagement.

He also shares real-life examples and quantifiable results to underscore the effectiveness of his solutions.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Leena Dhankhar
Leena Dhankhar is Senior Editor and Bureau Chief, Gurugram, at Hindustan Times, where she has spent over 17 years chronicling the transformation of one of India's fastest-growing urban regions. From starting her career as a crime reporter to leading the Gurugram bureau, her journalism has been defined by investigative reporting, in-depth storytelling and an unwavering focus on public interest. Over nearly two decades, she has reported extensively across crime, politics, civic governance, elections, real estate, environment, courts, sports, education and entertainment, covering Gurugram, Faridabad, Nuh and Palwal. Her reporting has exposed several major scams and systemic failures, including insurance frauds, waste management irregularities, illegal arms manufacturing units in Nuh, illegal mining in the Aravallis, organised crime networks and governance lapses affecting millions of residents. Known for her investigative work and exclusive stories, Leena has reported on high-impact national issues, including the Nicaragua charter flight carrying Indian migrants that was turned back amid allegations of human trafficking, exposing the growing network of illegal immigration rackets. Her work has also focused on gang wars, prison administration, juvenile crime, women and child protection systems, the functioning of the Juvenile Justice Board and Child Welfare Committee, and environmental challenges such as pollution, waterlogging and deteriorating civic infrastructure. Beyond hard news, Leena has extensively documented Haryana's rich heritage, forests and wildlife, bringing attention to the state's historical landmarks, biodiversity, conservation efforts and ecological challenges through immersive reportage and feature writing. Her journalism has consistently gone beyond breaking news. She has documented Gurugram's rapid urbanisation through long-form narratives and enterprise reporting on issues ranging from pothole-ridden roads, flooding and waste management to the changing social fabric of India's Millennium City. She also writes widely read feature columns, including The Outsider, Changemaker, and Concern for Gurugram, profiling people, places and ideas shaping the city's identity. Leena is the author of Gurugram School Murder, published by Juggernaut Books, a deeply reported account of one of India's most high-profile school murder investigations. She is currently working on her second book, an investigative work exploring some of India's most significant scams and fraud investigations. Beyond print journalism, she has expanded her storytelling through public speaking and digital media. She is a TEDx speaker and has produced podcasts exploring Gurugram's transformation, civic challenges and untold stories. Her work reflects a commitment to narrative journalism that combines rigorous reporting with compelling storytelling. A law graduate with an MBA in Human Resources, Leena brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her reporting, particularly on governance, public policy and legal affairs. She has travelled extensively across India to pursue investigative assignments, often reporting from remote locations and conflict-prone areas in search of stories that matter.Read More