Privatisation and the future of power distribution in India

By appropriately combining solar, wind, geothermal, and hydro energy, we can ensure a reliable, sustainable, and pollution-free power supply.

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Dr. DP Kothari Chairman- Board of Governors, THDC Institute of Hydropower Engineering and Technology, Tehri

Historically, electricity boards managed power generation, transmission and distribution, but reforms divided them into separate entities: Gencos, Transcos and Discoms. Privatisation has its advantages and disadvantages, but the positives outweigh the negatives.

The history of electric power in India is noteworthy. In 1947, the country's total power capacity was merely 1,360 MW. The leadership at that time prioritised power generation. The Bhakra Nangal project, commissioned in 1957, was a milestone followed later by NTPC and other organisations. In the private sector, notable companies of the time included Ahmedabad Electricity Company and Calcutta Electric Supply Corporation. Today, India has numerous private power firms such as Reliance, Adani, Tata Power and Hindalco's Renukoot Powerhouse.