ELECTRICITY INDUSTRY IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR IN INDIA
Prof. M. Sarngadharan and Shina Radhakrishnan
ELECTRICITY INDUSTRY, POWER GENERATION,
PUBLIC SECTOR, ECONOMICS
EBOOK Size: 2.39 MB; 253 pages; US$ 9
© M. Sarngadharan 2009
Electricity has become the lifeblood of the modern world, without which the world will come to a virtual standstill. Any sluggishness in the growth of the electricity industry in any part of the world can throw the region far behind other regions in industrial, economic and social growth. Thus, power has been widely recognized as one of the key factors of infrastructure, for a sustained growth of the country. Electricity is a primary input factor on which the progress of the economy of a nation depends. Full utilization of other input factors, such as manpower, land including irrigation, and capital-related resources of an economy depend upon the availability of electricity. In other words, it is not only a key input factor but it also plays a strategic role in utilizing fully the other resources towards the progress of the economy. In addition, electricity has become an essential factor in improving the social conditions and welfare of people. Thus, power is an input essential to the integrated economy of the country. Electricity, therefore, acts with a multiplier effect. Any shortfall in the availability of such a significant and strategic input factor will make the betterment of economy of a nation a distant hope. Thus, electricity is the most essential and vital ingredient for the growth of the nation in the social, industrial, commercial, and agricultural sectors. Hence a balanced development of electricity was identified as an important goal. Well recognized as ‘the industry of industries’ or the as the ‘mother industry’, electricity industry deserves priority in development and necessary support for sustainability during the planning process by the Government.
In the social field, too, electricity maintains its supremacy on all fronts, from daily needs, comforts and entertainment to agriculture and kitchen operations. The role of power sector in economic development is so tremendous that economists often establish a one-to-one correspondence between energy and economic development. The considered view of many of the influential groups of experts is that the poor state of affairs in infrastructure, including Electricity, is one of the basic maladies of tardy economic growth, a multitude of problems are popping up in the field of electricity industry. This has attracted keen attention from policy formers around the globe, and rigorous efforts to tackle these problems have become the order of the day. Industrial growth has been so fast and explosive in these years that the increase in energy supply could not maintain an equal pace. The major problems faced worldwide are fast depletion of non-renewable energy sources, increasing costs for energy, and inability to create sufficient returns for investment for growth. These problems have created a shortage of power in both quantity and quality. Electricity industry was mainly treated as a Government business worldwide, considering its importance as a vital infrastructure for the growth of the country. But growth in the sector, however impressive it was, looked insufficient to cope with the impulsive growth in industrial and other sectors. Consequently, the whole vision on the subject has been undergoing a swift change. A major shift in the electrical industry worldwide is the thinking that it is to be managed by the private sector rather than by the government. Thus, an era of reform for the power sector has opened up.
Ability to cater to the growing demands of the society and maintaining a sustainable pattern of functioning are the main challenges before the industry. Considering its importance as the vital infrastructure for the industrial, economic and social growth of humanity, experts, engineers, economists and policy formers of various countries are working hard for identification of the possible flaws and remedies for them. Specific objectives of the present eBook were to assess the growth or otherwise of the assets and return of one of the public sector undertakings in India engaged in production, transmission and distribution of electricity during the post liberalisation period; to examine the effectiveness in the performance in respect of the commercial sense in operation; to ascertain the methods of operation and the soundness of accounting practices followed; and to probe into the attitude of various categories of consumers on the financial charges levied for the services provided.
SARNGADHARAN, M., Professor and Chairman, PG Board of Studies in Commerce, University of Kerala, Trivandrum 695034 Secured M.Com Degree with first class, first rank from the University of Kerala (1975) and Ph.D. Degree from the Calicut University (1986) Teaching and Research experience of 33 years at the University level .Served as sole Government Administrator of Sivagiri Sree Narayana Dharma Sanghom Trust during 1997-99, when taken over for management by the Government of Kerala. Served as Head of University Department (1994-97 & 1999-2009), Member, Senate and Academic Council, and Chairman, P.G. Board of Studies - Commerce, University of Kerala. Served as the Dean Faculty of Commerce, University of Kerala and Member, Senate, Cochin University of Science and Technology. Served as the Expert Member of Selection Committees constituted by the Union Public Service Commission, Staff Selection Commission (Government of India) , Kerala Public Service Commission, UGC, NAAC (UGC), various Universities and other Government agencies on several occasions Provided Research guidance to 27 candidates for securing Ph.D. Degree in Commerce and this is a record in Kerala State. Authored \ Coauthored 15 Books – 7 in Malayalam and 8 in English – and this includes a collection of articles based on 25 research theses which won international recognition. Published 78 research articles on Commerce and management and about 500 popular articles on Finance, Education and Career planning in Kerala kaumudi daily and other leading publications Serving as Honorary Chief Editor of Journal of Business Studies published from the University of Kerala since 2004. Honoured by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Legal Institute for producing the highest number of Ph. Ds in Social Sciences from among the serving teachers in Kerala (2008); Won Guruprabha Award for the best Social Activist (1998); Won Kalakeralam Award for the best Educationalist (2005); won Sree Narayana Janakeeya Vedi award for the best educationalist in the State(2009) ; and chosen to the Dharmaprobhidini award for the best Commerce teacher in the State (2009). Visited England, Spain, Singapore, Malaysia, UAE – Dubai, Sharjah, Fujerah, Rasal Kaima, Al ain and Ajman; and Nepal for academic activities. Served as Chairman, Organizing Committee, International Conference of Tourism held at Trivandrum India during December 2004.
SHINA RADHAKRISHNAN teaches Commerce at the Graduate and Post Graduate levels for the last 28 years in various Aided Colleges under the S.N.Trusts, Kerala. She is now a senior faculty member of Sree Narayana College, Kollam, a premiere higher education centre under the University of Kerala. and is currently working on a project financed by the University Grants Commission of India. She took her M.Com, M Phil and Ph D from the University of Kerala. Her major area of interest is Electricity Finance and has written several articles in research journals and news papers.
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