Union Power Minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday said the state government, which lost its coal block after the Supreme Court cancelled the coal block allocation, could bid for a coal block at the next auction.
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All states, except LWE affected, have also resolved to electrify all remaining unelectrified villages by 31 December 2016 and states will award contracts in the next 30 days for this work.
“The Northeastern states require concern, care and commitment and special attention from everyone”, he said at the inauguration of the fourth edition of the two-day States’ Power Minister’s Conference at Cansaulim, South Goa.
“It is resolved to formulate a pro-active comprehensive hydro power policy to revive the hydro power sector”.
He said the government is also committed to providing cheaper power to the people and hiking power tariffs is not a solution.
The meeting discussed Hydro power policy and sought to work out ways of reviving small (25 MW or less) stalled hydro projects with cooperation from the states to provide new thrust to the hydro sector.
A committee for this has been set up which will submit its recommendations by September-end.
“We are ensuring that the dream of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to get 24×7 power for all, every household to get power, every farmer to get adequate power, industrialisation to grow rapidly, this dream of Prime Minister Modi to give 24×7 affordable, clean power for all”, he said.
States have given extraordinary co-operation in the implementation of UDAY, said Goyal adding that they have reviewed plans to take village electrification to the last mile.
During the conference, all the states have agreed to use smart meters, which are communication-enabled and tamper-proof.
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Showering praises on the Andhra Pradesh government for bringing significant changes in the power sector, Goyal said power thefts can soon be reported at a toll free number 1912. The government has planned to provide smart meters to consumers with 200 units consumption.
