R.K. Singh, Union Minister of Power and New & Renewable Energy (IC), highlighted the need of Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, envisaged by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in the power sector.
China accounted for nearly 30 per cent of India’s total import of power equipment during FY19.
Singh was addressing power ministers of state governments and UTs through video conference recently. He said that our country’s import bill for power equipments was around Rs.71,000 crore in FY19 even when we have manufacturing facility and ability for various requirements of the power sector. Out of these imports, Rs.20,000 crore alone came from China, the minister said.
He said that the power sector being strategic and essential in nature is vulnerable for cyber attacks. Therefore, he added, imported equipments will be subjected testing to check influx of malwares like Trojan etc. He also stressed that it should be our sincere endeavour to promote manufacturing of power infrastructure equipments within the country.
The minister stated that much has been achieved in the power sector. This includes:
- Power generation capacity addition of nearly 15,000 mw per year since 2014
- Connecting the entire nation, including remote areas like Leh and Ladakh, through a single grid
India’s grid system is one of the best in the world and this was demonstrated during the “light out” event on April 5, 2020 when the grid handled the steepest fall and climb in demand, within a very short time.
Viability of discoms
The major challenge now in the power sector, he said, is to make distribution companies viable and make our country self reliant in manufacturing of equipments related to power sector. As such, liquidity infusion up to Rs.90,000 crore for discoms was being given under a Package announced by the Govt of India recently for losses up to March 31, 2020.
A total of Rs.93,000 crore has been sought by discoms of states and Union territories, so far.
He informed that against this demand of about Rs.93,000 crore has been received from states/UTs and Rs.20,000 crore has been approved as of now while the remaining demands are being processed expeditiously.
Speaking to media through VC, the minister informed that various states/UTs requested for extending the Union government’s package to cover losses up to June, 2020. The minister stated that the demand of the States/UTs for extending the support will be considered.
Merger of schemes
The Minister also informed that a new scheme will soon be announced after merging Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY) and Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS). . Centre’s funding to states is being made conditional in the new scheme.
The schemes DDUGJY and IPDS have been merged into a new scheme and assistance under this scheme to any state/UT would depend on the health of the power distribution system of that state/UT.
States or UTs whose discoms are not in loss will have no problem in getting the funds but the states/UTs whose DISCOMs are in loss will have to give a proper plan as to how they are going to eliminate the losses to get funds. Singh underlined that states governments and UTs have been given around Rs.1.5 crore every 3-4 years to improve the infrastructure in the power sector but the same situation keeps repeating itself due to lack of non-adherence to loss reductions trajectory. That is why the adhering to new scheme is proposed to link the funding to the reforms.
R.K. Singh also congratulated officials related to power sector for commendable job during the nationwide lockdown period in wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. He said that India has now achieved a power generation capacity of 3,70,000 mw in power generation against a demand of 1,85,000 mw. India was also exporting electricity to several countries, Singh noted.
Featured photographs sourced from PIB
