Former MP urges Centre to stop move to privatise Electricity Department

M. Ramadass said there was no “logic in privatising a profit making and robust enterprise without examining the facts and figures."

Former Member of Parliament M. Ramadass has urged the Centre to stop the move to privatise profit making Puducherry Electricity Department.

In a letter to Union Minister for Power and Renewable Energy, the economist turned politician said there was no “logic in privatising a profit making and robust enterprise without examining the facts and figures."

"A private player is not even an imperfect substitute to a strong department. He may not improve the existing supply of distribution in any better way. Perhaps, he may resort to two-way exploitation – consumers by hiking existing tariff under some pretext and employees by wage cutting and retrenchment policies. By maximising his profits and filling his coffer, he may proclaim to be more efficient but at a heavy loss of public welfare,” Mr. Ramadass said.