Bihar to raise demand for nat'l tariff at power minsters' meet

Bihar is likely to raise demand for a national power tariff at the two-day conference of power ministers at Rajgir in Nalanda district later this week, state energy minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav said here today.
Briefing reporters about the event which will commence on November 10, Yadav said the country should have a national power tariff with no regional variations, quite like the new uniform taxation system in the form of GST.
"We end up paying more to the NTPC for power since we get electricity via eastern region. A national tariff will bring relief to power consumers in the east," he said.

Addressing the press meet, state's principal secretary (power) Pratayay Amrit said Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Union Minister of State for Power R K Singh and power ministers of as many as 11 states have confirmed their participation in the conference.
As part of the two-day conference, dignitaries will also lay foundation stones for power schemes worth over Rs 8151.67 crore, Amrit said.
Besides, development projects worth Rs 511.29 crore will be dedicated to the public on this occasion and works involving a total expenditure of about Rs 160.5 crore will be inaugurated, he told reporters.
"The conference is held twice a year. The previous one was held in Delhi in the month of May. It aims at holding extensive and intensive review of programmes and schemes related to new and renewable sources of energy," the principal secretary said.

The conference will come to a close with comments and suggestions from states and UTs and adoption of proposals put forward by the attending delegates, Amrit added.