The Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) has formally opposed the Haryana Government's decision to hand over electricity distribution responsibilities in Gurugram and Nuh districts to a private entity. Speaking at a press conference in Chandigarh, INLD patron and former minister Sampat Singh characterised the move as an attempt to transfer public assets, government infrastructure, and revenue into private hands, rather than a genuine reform in the power sector.
Profitable DHBVN Assets at Risk
Singh highlighted that the Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) derives 42 per cent of its revenue from Gurugram district alone. He noted that line losses in Gurugram are significantly lower than the state average: Gurugram's line loss stands at 4.70 per cent, compared to the state's 10.02 per cent. "Why does the government intend to privatise power companies that have been already profitable? The state's power infrastructure is public property and the privatisation of the same will never be in its interest," he said.
INLD Raises 112 Points in Hearing
The INLD patron revealed that during a hearing at the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission on Wednesday, the party opposed the privatisation by raising 112 specific points. He added that the battle would be a long one. INLD national senior vice-president RS Chaudhary, former DGP MS Malik, party state spokesperson Satbir Saini, and office secretary Nachhattar Singh Malhan were also present at the event.
Massive Investments at Stake
Singh pointed out that investments of Rs 1,608 crore under the Smart City scheme and Rs 3,584 crore under the RDSS scheme have been made in Gurugram. "Everyone has their eyes on this public money. Currently, the government is preparing to award the license to a novice company established in June 2025. It does not possess adequate experience, yet preparations were underway to award it a project worth approximately Rs 4,717 crore," he alleged.
UDAY Scheme and Subsidies Questioned
He further stated that the government has collected Rs 25,950 crore from the public under the UDAY scheme and infused an additional Rs 3,352 crore in capital, besides providing subsidies to cover losses. Singh questioned the rationale behind privatising profitable utilities after such public investment.
Legal Precedents Cited
Singh cited Supreme Court and Appellate Tribunal for Electricity rulings in cases involving Sesa Sterlite Limited, Reliance Energy Limited, Tata Power Company Limited, Reliance Infrastructure Limited, and Noida Power Company Limited. These rulings, he said, clarified that when granting parallel distribution licenses, it is essential to consider consumer interests, financial stability of existing utilities, and avoid cherry-picking only profitable areas.
Congress Criticised for Absence
Singh also criticised the Congress party for its absence at the hearing. "No Congress leader or representative attended the hearing on electricity matters, even though all Congress leaders were present at a meeting in Chandigarh. The Congress merely turns newspaper reports into issues, whereas the Indian National Lok Dal is the party actually playing the role of the main opposition in the state," he asserted.
