Energy minister to study Gujarat model, vows transparency

Power, coal & renewable ministries linked to 'work in tandem and cut costs'

Piyush Goyal, the new minister of state for power, coal and new & renewable energy, on Tuesday swore by the Gujarat model of development and promised transparency in functioning.

The 49-year-old Rajya Sabha member from Maharashtra took over as minister of state-independent charge for the three ministries. On his first day in office, he refused to accept flower bouquets from visitors but thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for reposing “faith and confidence” in him.

Goyal said, during a media interaction, he was planning a visit to Gujarat with his team to understand the state’s model of “energy sector turnaround” and replicate it. He also promised transparency. “I am fairly confident we can induce transparency in the working of this ministry and set a lot of things right so that as we go along, things are simplified, rationalised and far more honest than what we have seen in the last few years,” he said, responding to a question on the controversies surrounding the coal sector.

Alleged irregularities in coal block allocation had created trouble for the earlier United Progressive Government.

Hinting at the alleged discretionary coal allocation made to companies during the previous government, Goyal said transparency can be brought in “if we are all able to get into a system of working within the system which is laid down without discretionary exceptions being made to government working.”

The minister said the three ministries were brought under one umbrella in the new government to ensure these can “work in tandem and cut costs”. He said he cannot disclose his top priorities as he was yet to learn about the two energy sectors and the workings of the ministries.

Asked whether he favours privatisation of coal mining, he said: “In Gujarat, the prime minister (Narendra Modi, when he was the chief minister) was able to do some wonderful work without privatisation. Power utilities there have converted themselves from loss-making to profit-making entities. I think it is all about leadership and integrity.”

Commenting on the issue of green clearances holding up infrastructure projects, the minister said a balance has to be maintained between the need to protect the environment and development. Goyal said his government would look beyond the issue of green clearances and assess projects’ economic viability, too. He said his working would be more policy-driven and process-driven but did not elaborate further.

Goyal later had detailed meetings with key ministerial staff.