Hyderabad, June 2 (PTI): Expressing apprehension that the
proposed amendments to the Electricity Act will have an
adverse impact directly on the management of the states power
utilities, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on
Tuesday demanded that the Centre withdraw the new Bill.
Rao wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing his
opinion in the backdrop of the Centre asking the states to
express their views on the proposed Draft Electricity Bill
Amendment Act 2020, an official release said.
"The Government of Telangana wishes to convey its serious
concerns on the proposed amendments, which have a direct
negative bearing on the functioning of power sector in the
state.
In the circumstances stated above, the government is of
the opinion that the Ministry of power should be advised to
withdraw the amendments proposed in the public interest," Rao
said in his letter.
According to him, the proposed Bill takes away certain
functions and powers of the state government such as
appointment of State electricity regulatory commission, which
will hit "on the core of the Federal policy which is enshrined
in the Constitution."
Any national renewable energy policy should be formulated
with the explicit consent of state governments, but not mere
consultation as every state has its own unique positions like
potential for hydro power, wind power, solar power and land
availability, among others, he opined.
Rao also raised issues with regard to the scheduling of
power throughout the country.
The draft Bill has a provision for Direct Benefit
Transfer (DBT) of subsidy provided to consumers, particularly
to the agriculture and domestic sectors, which, according to
the Telangana government, would work against the interests of
farmers and poor domestic consumers.
"It has been the policy of Telangana government that the
farmers should receive 247 free power.
Mode of payment of the subsidy should be left to the
state government.
Any proposal to modify the current statute on the
specific subject matter will be highly objectionable to our
government," the Chief Minister said.
Rao also raised objections on fixing the power tariff for
all the consumers without any subsidy.
Presently terrific fixation by the Commission includes
some cross subsidy to be borne by certain category of
consumers.
"With the proposed amendment, power bills ought to be
issued for actual cost to all the categories of consumers
including agriculture.
Therefore we strongly oppose this provision," the letter
said. PTI GDK APR
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