The power situation in the DVC command area of the state, which has sparked widespread protests, is likely to improve.

A meeting on Saturday between officials of the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC), the energy department and Jharkhand Bijli Vitran Nigam Limited (JBVNL) was held at Project Bhawan in Dhurwa here.

The meeting, called to discuss the pending payment of around Rs 5,000 crore to the DVC, decided that the JBVNL will immediately pay Rs 400 crore and then Rs 170-180 crore every month which it raises by supplying power from the DVC.

It was also decided that due payment will be given in instalments over two years after settlement of the dispute at the power tribunal in New Delhi.

Those present at the meeting included L. Khiangte, secretary cum chairman and managing director of JBVNL, managing director of JBVNL Rajeev Arun Ekka and representatives of the DVC including P.K. Mukhopadhyay, S. Haldar and Anjan Dey.

FJCCI suggestion

The Federation of Jharkhand Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FJCCI) on Saturday suggested that power distribution in the DVC command area within the state be transferred to DVC itself instead of the present discom, JBVNL.

The FJCCI wrote a letter to chief minister Hemant Soren with the suggestion.

This change of discom would save consumers of those areas as they would pay electricity bills directly to the DVC and be saved from prolonged power cuts they have been facing due to the ongoing tussle between the DVC and the JBVNL that has now almost become a regular feature, explained FJCCI secretary Dheeraj Taneja.

Protests

Ajsu Party members from Dhanbad on Saturday staged a dharna at Randhir Verma Chowk in the town to protest the 18-hour power cuts the district has been facing for the last three days. The protesters demanded round-the-clock power in the state.

Members of the Dhanbad District Chamber of Commerce also held a meeting on Saturday with Pratosh Kumar, JBVNL general manager (Dhanbad supply area), on the power crisis.