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Power Bill not anti-farmer: Kumaramangalam
A day after the AIADMK resolved to oppose the proposed Power Bill in Parliament, a business chamber also expressed apprehension it may become yet another reason for delays in commissioning projects in the sector. At a workshop on policy imperatives for private power projects in Delhi on, PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) president O P Vaish said the ordinance, issued last month and proposed to be replaced by the bill, along with frequent policy changes could hinder commissioning of projects in power. Allaying fears, Union Power Minister P R Kumaramangalam said the ordinance was neither anti-farmer as alleged by AIADMK nor would it hinder the private participation in power generation. Kumaramangalam reiterated the ordinance said every customer had to pay atleast half the cost of generating power and a three-year relaxation was given to farmers in this connection. Even after the expiry of the time limit, state governments were free to susidise farmers, but would have to compensate state electricity boards for the purpose. He said the ordinance sought to rationalise the tariff structure in the power sector during the transition period before private participation became a fact of life in the sector. (Business Aaj Tak)