Enron officials call on Thackeray

Enron officials call on Thackeray
Express News Service

Mumbai, Mar 26: With the Chief Minister adopting a tough, uncompromising attitude, US power giant Enron is now banking on leading politicians to resolve the crisis over payments. Over the past couple of months, the loss-ridden state electricity board has either delayed monthly payments to the Dabhol Power Company for energy supplied or not made them at all.

As a first step, DPC Chairman Neil Macgregor and Vice-President Mukesh Tyagi today called on Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray to resolve the crisis. They will soon meet NCP President Sharad Pawar and senior BJP leader and Union Minister for Information Technology Pramod Mahajan also.

``Meeting with Thackeray was routine one. Since he is an important politician from Maharashtra, Enron officials briefed him on the current situation, vis-a-vis, the refusal of the Congress-led Democratic Front government to release payments,'' a senior Enron official said.

Thackeray has made it clear that unless power rates are cut drastically, he will not intervene to resolve the crisis, the official said, adding, in view of his specific suggestion, Enron will soon convene a special meeting for the purpose.

Soon after the Sena-BJP government took over in 1995, it had dumped the multicrore project, on the ground that it was against the state's interest. However, it was revived following Thackeray's intervention.