'24x7 power supply to entire country a big challenge'

Ensuring 24x7 power supply, particularly to northern and eastern regions, is a big challenge for the present government, Additional Principal Secretary in the Prime Minister Office, P K Mishra said today.
Speaking at the inauguration of ENERASIA-2014, a global energy summit organised at Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Petroleum University here, Mishra said that the power sector faces several challenges, including fuel supply.
"At the national level, lot of issues are faced by the power sector, such as supply of coal and gas to power plants. One of the key issues today is to ensure 24x7 power supply in many parts of country, particularly northern and eastern India," Mishra said.

"Another issue is related to power generation and distribution. We have to reduce commercial losses and improve viability of various entities involved in power generation and distribution. For that, we need a comprehensive policy framework," Mishra said.
Mishra also stressed upon the need for reaching out to all citizens deprived of electricity.
"Crores of people in India don't have access to power yet. However, reliability of power is also a key issue. We need a rational policy framework to overcome it," Mishra said.

Listing issues which need attention, Mishra claimed that all other states look towards Gujarat to improve their power scenario.

"Just like 24x7 power supply, quality as well as affordability of power are also important for a vast section of consumers. For that, we need to outline polices and regulatory framework," Mishra said.
At the event, Gujarat Finance Minister Saurabh Patel said the energy sector used to be in a mess before Narendra Modi took over as Prime Minister.
"Modi has changed the sentiments of this country in 100 days. Earlier, due to policy paralysis, decisions were not taken. Now, a lot of decisions are taken very quickly," Patel said.
Patel said that installed capacity of around 4,000 MW in different power plants of Gujarat lie idle due to gas shortage. He said that people in Gujarat would have to prepare to pay more for power in the coming months, as the government would have to pay a higher price to import gas to run power plants.

"Some gas-based plants are idle due to non-availability of gas. Pricing, quality and availability of coal is also an issue here. People have to pay the price if they need quality power, since we have to pass on the burden of fuel purchase cost," Patel said, assuring that Gujarat would add 9,000 MW of power generation capacity in three years.
"With the addition of 9,000 MW, our installed power generation capacity will rise from 23,000 MW to 32,000 MW in three years. Gujarat will show the way to the country in the power sector," Patel said.