The government on Tuesday moved the Electricity Bill 2001 in the Lok Sabha seeking to consolidate the laws relating to generation, transmission, distribution of power besides rationalisation of tariff in the states.
Moving the Bill, Union Power Minister Anant Geete said, "The central focus of the Bill is consumer. The needs and problems of all types of consumers -- agriculture, industry, commercial, rural and urban have been looked into."
He also pointed out that financial condition of all state electricity boards is deteriorating year after year due to faulty policies and the passage of the current Bill would ensure transparent policies regarding subsidies, promotion of efficient and environmentally benign policies among others.
The Bill also seeks establishment of State Regulatory Commissions and Appellate Tribunal, Geete said.
Pointing out that there was shortage of electricity in every state and demand for good quality and cheap power was arising from every quarter, the minister said electricity generation was being delicensed and captive generation would be freely permitted.
Geete informed that 80,000 villages and 50 per cent of the houses in villages were without electricity. This is big challenge in front of the government and this Bill would help in attaining the target.
The Standing Committee had made 83 recommendations of which 68 have been included in this Bill, the minister said adding that the rest would also be considered while framing other related policies.
The Bill is likely to come up for debate on Wednesday in the Lok Sabha.
