Cm'S Meet To Draft Comprehensive Policy On Energy

He said the meeting would have a comprehensive look at the power sector and would try to resolve the problems facing it.

The minister said at present there was no comprehensive energy policy. Decisions had so far been taken keeping in view the prevailing circumstances, but now it was time for the formulation of a policy to give direction to the government programmes in this sector. Venugopalachari said the meeting would discuss uniform power tariff for all states, restructuring of state electricity boards, cutting down of transmission and distribution losses and recovery of electricity dues of Central utlities ofRs 10,000 crore.

He said the Centre was also mulling over ways of appropriating these dues from the central grant to states. However, a final decision on this could be taken only with full concurrence of chief ministers.

Venugopalachari disclosed that an inter-ministerial group under the chairmanship of the principal secretary to the Prime Minister had been set up to examine issues relating to coal linkages for power plants, railways and environment.

The minister emphasised that no decision had so far been taken on either fixing a uniform power tariff for agricultural uses or for having a minimum tariff for the purpose.

Later, power secretary P Abraham clarified that the draft power tariff policy was ready and would be discussed at the meeting. Moreover, a draft power purchase agreement (PPA) had also been drawn up by the power ministry.