Midweek Conversation—Debashis Sen—Managing Director, WBPDCL

In the IAS circle, he is known as a fire fighter because of his ability to cease tension—whether it was for holding elections in the state, keeping the Opposition political parties’ criticism at bay, or compelling the Lalgarh rebels for holding peaceful and fair polls in trouble-torn regions. Debashis Sen, one of the senior IAS officers has taken up the job of managing the West Bengal Power Development Corporation Limited (WBPDCL) after the generation company was almost deep in water with series of breakdowns and problems in gas turbines. Will this ever-smiling, articulate man be successful in resuming Bengal’s lost glory in thermal power generation, though still a million dollar question, but in his first interview to Hindustan Times as the managing director, WBPDCL, this IAS has revealed his plans and the prospects of upcoming projects that was about to get lost in the murky waters of Opposition’s agitation. Excerpts: -

Opposition alleged that corporatisation is just a myth in power sector. People rather should learn the art of living in darkness. Your take…

--I should not speak on the issue of curving out of two new companies—West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (WBSEDCL) and West Bengal State Electricity Transmission Company Limited (WBSETCL). West Bengal Power Development Corporation Limited (WBPDCL) was a company since 1985. It was re-restructured rather in 2006 for making it more profitable and market-friendly. WBPDCL, at least, what I have decided, would lay more thrust of running its generation station with minimum or no breakdown so that it could provide relief to the consumers giving endless supply to the distribution company, at the same time make profit through trading power in the national market. What I felt, there is minimum change of mindset that will be required, which is not a big issue for this large generation company. I love believing in myself. I love believing in my people who will take this message very clearly down the stream. So you can say, better days are not far away for Bengal.

It is learnt that the state government has almost given up its hope of developing the ultra mega thermal power plant at Katwa because of land dispute. Do you see any light at the end of the tunnel?

--I love keeping a very positive mindset wherever I have worked. I have served as the district magistrate of Burdwan, so Katwa’s people are no new to me. Most certainly we are not giving up hope of building up this state’s first ultra mega thermal power plant at Katwa, rather very soon we will be building the boundary walls round the land acquired for developing the generation station. Actually, the total requirement of land was almost about 1026 acres, but divided into four phases—350 acres, 183 acres, 250 acres and 246 acres. It was decided to build up the total project into three categories—the generation station, the ash pond, and the township. We have been successful in acquiring at least the land for our generation unit, which much I can say, and the project will surely take off. It got delayed, but not discarded.

The WBPDCL had to go through enough criticism for assigning the Chinese multinational power equipment manufacturing major Dong Fang Electricals Limited—both by the Union Power Ministry and the public. Will you prefer Chinese technology for your upcoming capacity augmentation projects?

--I have taken up this charge just on August 1 this year. I have to study the whole situation on this issue before making any statement on Dong Fang Electricals Limited. The problem with our power generation stations is somewhat different. Two of our major units at Santaldih and Bakreshwar have problems with coal having high ash content. There are basically two type of broilers used in the generation stations—Corner Fire Broiler and Centre Fire Broiler. Our old generation units like Santaldih and Bakreshwar are having Centre Fire Broiler that needs high-grade coal with low ash content. Getting high-grade coal is really a big issue. The other units are absolutely okay. The new units can run even with coal having more than 50 per cent of ash content. We have decided to solve this problem on a priority basis and really it is no big issue for a company like WBPDCL.

Keeping in view of the rising cost of coal, how will you put the WBPDCL again on profit-making track?

--Very pertinent question. Coal price is really sky rocketing and price of deep-mined coal is just more than double. For running our old units, we are importing higher grade of coal from Indonesia—which is also a costly affair. Generation companies like National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) has increased the price of per unit power by 80 paise in the last three-four months. It is now upto the regulatory commission to decide what we could do to maintain our profitability. After all we, too, are in business of power. We neither can stop our generation units, nor can stop buying coal at higher prices—because it is ultimately related with the people’s interest. I have full trust with every body associated with power and very much hopeful of taking this mission forward so that WBPDCL could become an example for any other state.

EOM

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