For efficiency, govt merges power firms

The Delhi government today decided to merge power companies Pragati Power Corporation (PPCL) and Indraprastha Power Generation Company Limited (IPGCL).

The Delhi government on Tuesday decided to merge power companies Pragati Power Corporation (PPCL) and Indraprastha Power Generation Company Limited (IPGCL).

A decision to this effect was taken by the Cabinet, which sources said was prompted by cost-cutting measures.

The two companies had been incorporated after the rebundling of the then Delhi Vidyut Board in 2002.

Even as Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit maintained that the move would improve functioning of the power generating units, sources said that the main reason behind the merger was cost-cutting.

“The city government felt necessary to streamline the functioning of the power companies by merging them into a single unit. The new merged company would be known as IPGCL,” said Dikshit. After the merger, all employees of PPCL would become the employees of IPGCL and will be governed by the rules and policies of IPGCL.

The new company will also take up renewable energy activities and also facilitate setting up of 220 KV GIS sub-station at Rajghat after de-commissioning of Rajghat Power House.

In another decision, the government also decided to raise the salary of 761 vocational part-time teachers from R13,160 to R23,265 per month, subject to their fulfilling the eligibility conditions. Currently, these teachers are being paid a consolidated monthly remuneration.

“Our government has been concentrating on imparting vocational education to the students, keeping in view the rising demand for skilled manpower across the country and abroad. The Prime Minister has also been focusing on this issue under skill development mission of the Central government,” added Dikshit.

The vocational education programme, introduced in the year 1977-78 under the class XII pattern in the education system, is being implemented in 202 government and seven government-aided senior secondary schools. Vocational training is being given to more than 16,000 students under 17 different trades.