Power Minister assures electricity reach throughout country by 2012

New Delhi, May 16 (UNI) The Rajya Sabha today passed the Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2007 with an assurance from Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde that the target to overcome the shortage of electricity and rural electrification by 2012 would certainly be achieved.

The Lok Sabha has already passed the Bill last week.

Replying to the debate in the Upper House, Mr Shinde said electricity is a concurrent subject and the Central Government is supplementary. The State Government concerned and the Central Government should jointly make endeavours to provide access to electricity to all areas, including villages through rural electricity infrastructure and electrification of households.

He said from time to time electricity is diverted to other States facing acute shortages to accommodate their requirements.

Mr Shinde said currently there was a shortage of 78,000 MW and additional capacity has to be put in place to overcome that.

He said there are provisions to deal with the theft and unauthorised use of electricity.

The Minister further said power generation could not be left alone to the PSUs like NTPC and NHPC. States should come forward and Centre would extend assistance and services of employees of such units to them in generating power.

Mr Shinde also informed that a meeting of all the State Chief Minister, Power Minister and Secretaries has been convened on May 28 to discuss the power issue in the country and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will address them.

EDS: Pls pick up suitably from earlier series.

UNI