In a meeting recently held at Raipur, the Union Power Minister Manohar Lal has reviewed the power sector for Chhattisgarh. The meeting was attended by Vishnu Deo Sai, Chief Minister, Chhattisgarh; Vijay Sharma, Dy. Chief Minister, Chhattisgarh; and Tokhan Sahu, Union Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs. Senior officials from the Ministry of Power, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, the State Government and the CPSEs were also present in the meeting.
The progress of Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) in the State of Chhattisgarh was reviewed in the meeting. Additionally, issues related to Power Sector reforms, measures taken for facilitating Ease of Living through electricity, issues related to NTPC and development of coal blocks were also discussed.
Beside other discussions, the Union Minister requested the State Government to not to levy any cess on Hydro Power Projects and Pump Storage Projects – as such form of levies adds on to the tariff for the consumers. He advised that the state, though close to the national average in AT&C losses, should further strive to reduce it to below 10% so as to minimize the financial burden on the DISCOM and, thus, the state. He also advised the State Government to expeditiously resolve the issues related to the projects of NTPC, which have been conceptualized or are under development.
