Press Trust of India
New Delhi, April 1: Eight states, including Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, issued bonds worth almost Rs 1 lakh crore in 2015-16 under the UDAY scheme meant for revival of debt-ridden power distribution companies. The discoms have accumulated debt of Rs 4.37 lakh crore. Till date, as many as 10 states have formally signed up for the scheme.
Under the programme, the states will issue bonds to take on 75 per cent of the debt of these discoms and the remaining credit will be paid through state-guaranteed bonds issued by discoms. “Another target achieved: UDAY bonds worth almost Rs 1 lakh crore issued in the last financial year helping achieve 24X7 affordable power for all,” Power Minister Piyush Goyal Friday said. The tentative data collected from the states show that bonds worth Rs 99,541 crore were issued by states under the UDAY scheme launched by the Centre in November last year for revival of debt-stressed distribution companies, a source said.
Rajasthan has issued bonds worth Rs 37,350 crore followed by Uttar Pradesh at Rs 24,332 crore, Haryana at Rs 17,300 crore and Punjab Rs 9,860 crore. Jharkhand issued bonds worth Rs 6,136 crore while Jammu & Kashmir and Bihar issued securities worth Rs 2,140 crore and Rs 1,553 crore, respectively. Chhattisgarh has issued bonds worth Rs 870 crore under the scheme to pare debt of its discoms. Goyal, in a tweet, also said Uttarakhand has formally signed the agreement to come on board, thus becoming the 10th state to formally subscribe to UDAY.
