Chief Minister of West Bengal writes to Prime Minister about Electricity Act

July 2003 - March 2004 Index

Chief Minister of West Bengal writes to Prime Minister

Dear Prime Minister,

I would like to share with you some of our concerns about the Electricity Act, 2003.

The Act dilutes the States’ role in the future development of the power sector. The state Governments are allowed to work in an advisory capacity only which is not in consonance with the constitutional provisions. This Act will not help achieve the national vision for rural electrification. The re-structured and privatised utilities are unlikely to either have the necessary incentives or the resources for rural sector. The Act will neither be conducive to streamlining the Post-SEB restructuring era. The proposed Power Sector Reform Fund is yet to materialize, nor have complete steps been taken to estimate and locate the appropriate quantum of the concessional resources.

The Act further proposed that the cross subsidy will have to be eliminated. This will certainly have a profound adverse impact in a country where 30 per cent of the population live below the poverty line.

I believe there are good reasons to undertake a detailed review of the implications of the new Act and attempt to evolve a national consensus in the matter. I strongly urge you to call a meeting of the Chief Ministers to address these crucial issues.

With regards,

Yours sincerely,

Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, (Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee)

Prime Minister of India,

South Block,

New Delhi.


Home \| Voice of Electricity workers \| Press Release \| Resolutions \| Feedback \| About Us