Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 15: All India Power Engineers Federation (AIPEF) has appealed the Prime Minister to put on hold the controversial draft Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2020 as proper discussion in Parliament would not be possible under constraints of virtual participation.
VK Gupta, spokesperson of the Federation said that AIPEF in a letter dated June 13 to the Prime Minister has stated that a large number of states have raised serious objections that the amendments are against the spirit of the federal structure of the Power sector based on the constitutional provision of power is a concurrent subject. The amendments seek to erode the working of Regulatory Commissions and dictate on issues of tariff, DBT, subsidy, Electricity Tribunal ECEA, Payment security issues, etc. which are clearly in purview of state policy
Under such circumstances, the highly controversial Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2020 must be withdrawn, particularly as a substantial number of States namely Tamilnadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Kerala, Chhattisgarh,West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand and Puducherry has already expressed their strong objections, the spokesperson revealed.
It was further conveyed that in view of strong objections from the number of states, the Bill would certainly require extended discussion and debate in both the Houses of Parliament which would not be possible under constraints of virtual participation. It makes it all the more necessary and urgent that the Bill must be referred to the Standing Committee on energy so that states and stakeholders including consumer organizations and employee and engineers associations/federations can submit their objections in detail.
The issues contained in draft amendments are far too draconian to be rushed through and certainly deserve the detailed feedback from the states who hold a concurrent status under the constitution. Several issues are clearly a tilt towards privatization, which needs to be removed. The amendments are further based on the agenda of privatization which is not justified for a key infrastructure such as electricity. In view of the fact that a large number of States have strongly objected to the draft amendments AIPEF suggest that the Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2020 should be withdrawn.
Gupta said on June 14, AIPEF has written letters to all the Chief Ministers urging them to represent to Prime Minister that proposed amendments to Electricity Act 2003 is not acceptable and must be put on hold as these are against the federal structure of country.
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