Power Ministers' Conference to be held in Delhi today

The seventh Power Ministers' Conference will be held here today with focus on speedy implementation of various schemes and issues related to the sector.

The conference will be inaugurated by Power Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia and will be attended by the Power Ministers of the States and Union Territories.

Among the key issues that will be discussed at the meeting is the Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY), the government's flagship rural electrification programme.

The programme aims to provide access to electricity to all households in the country. Under it, projects are financed by the Central Government with a capital subsidy of 90 percent for the construction of power sub-stations, 33 and 11 KV HT Lines, Distribution Transformers, LT Lines and free connections to all BPL families in the country.

The main issues to be discussed pertain to completion of pending projects, difficulties of contract agencies, energisation of villages where work has been already completed among others, the release said.

The Restructured Accelerated Power Development and Reforms Programme (R-APDRP) is also on the agenda, especially progress of the projects sanctioned under the scheme.

Other items to be discussed include the financial restructuring plan for state-owned distribution licensees and the model state electricity distribution responsibility bill, the inadequacy of state transmission networks and strengthening of regulatory commissions.