PM to chair conf of Chief Ministers on power

New Delhi, May 25: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will inaugurate a conference of Chief Ministers of states and Union Territories on power related issues here on May 28.

The conference, chaired by the Prime Minister, would have deliberations on programme for rapid expansion of generation in the next five years, reduction of losses (T&D/ATC) through a crash programme, improving functioning of electricity markets by ensuring greater competitiveness, including through open access, rural electrification and energy conservation and demand side management.

The conference was a follow up of the recently concluded meeting of states chief secretaries/power secretaries last month, where there was a general consensus on the issues relating to reduction of losses, control of power theft, accelerated expansion of generation capacity in the next five years, need for facilitation and encouragement by states in 'open access' in transmission and distribution.

That meet had also reviewed the progress of rural electrification under the Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana and the states were asked to formulate their plans for rural electrification and share them with the union Power Ministry.

UNI