Rajya Sabha concerned over absence of National Electricity Policy

New Delhi, Aug 21 (UNI) Members in the Rajya Sabha today expressed serious concern over the acute shortage of power in the country with the situation continuing to deteriorate further in the absence of a National Electricity Policy (NEP).

Participating in a half-an-hour discussion on the issue, raised by Congressman Santosh Bagrodia and others, the members cited unchecked transmission and distribution (T&D) losses, an excessively high power tariff, exhorbitant production cost and rampant power theft as contributory to the already critical situation.

Cutting across party lines, the discussion -- which lasted more than 90 minutes -- saw members demanding that the Government immediately come out with a NEP which could firmly address these concerns.

The offered suggestions included appointment of an Independent Fuel Regulator (IFR), incorporating more efficient power production techniques, optimal utilisation of allocated funds, removing inefficiency and corruption among personnel, capacity expansion of Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) -- the sole power generating equipment manufacturer in the country, setting up of more hydel projects and improvement in the Plant Load Factor (PLF) for optimal utilisation of installed capacity.

Those who participated in the discussion included Ramdas Agarwal (BJP), Tapan Kumar Sen (CPI-M), N P Durga (TDP), Maya Singh (BJP), Tarlochan Singh (Independent), Matilal Sarkar (CPI-M) and J P Aggarwal (Cong).

UNI BBS/DG Vd GC1842