FICCI seminar calls for integral energy policy in the country

Mumbai, Oct 10 (UNI) The third global convention 'Energy Technologies Forum, 2006', which was held by FICCI here today, emphasised that the country needed an Integral Energy Policy to create a mechanism to fix relative fuel prices and frame common regulations and consistent tax structures.

Addressing the inaugural session of the seminar, Chairman, FICCI-WRC and Managing Director, Salora International Ltd, Sushil Jiwarajaka, said that 'The multiplicity in the administrative set-up for different energy sources denies the opportunities for inter-linkages and synergy, due to which sub-optimal solutions emerge.

Hence he suggested for the need of an Integral Energy Policy as the only solution to get rid of the problem. It would also play a critical role in creating a level playing field for all the stakeholders, he added.

Later talking to UNI on the sidelines of the seminar, he said that to achieve the goal of 'Power to all', as envisaged by the Centre to make energy available to all the villages in the country by 2012, may be difficult to achieve keeping in view the way the things were turning up in the power scenario of the country.

Elaborating it, he said that to achieve the target, we'll have to make an investment of 100 billion USD in the sector within a period of 10 years from now which may be a gigantic task before our policymakers.

We are adding merely 4000-5000 MW energy per annum which was woefully inadequate keeping in view the daunting task before us.

Hence he advised to go for measures like promoting renewable energy, conservation of energy and production of biomass.

Talking about the initiatives being made by state-run Rural Electrification Corporation in this direction, its Chairman&Managing Director A K Lakhina said that ''We are following franchise model for rural electrification.'' Agencies like NGOs, Gram Panchayats and others have been given the franchise for the job with a rider that while doing so, they will reduce the Transmission &Distribution losses from currently existing 50 per cent to 15 per cent, he said. While 40,000 villages will be given franchises by the end of the current financial year, a total one lakh villages would be covered under the scheme.

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