Editorial
THE NEW GOVERNMENT
The BJP led NDA has been defeated by the United Progressive
Alliance led by the Congress in the 14th Lok Sabha Elections
shattering their dream of acquiring 2/3rd majority in this election
to fully implement their so called Hindutva based programmes. However we are
glad that the black days of BJP raj has come to an end and a new government was
installed at the centre led by Shri. Man Mohan Singh, as Prime Minister,
promising to implement a Common Minimum Programme (CMP) in the interests of the
people while claiming to implement the economic reforms with a human face.
The common minimum
programme has promised that “The review of the Electricity Act, 2003 will be
undertaken in view of the concern expressed by a number of states.” And the
Prime Minister has gone on record that “ Higher rates of economic growth,
urbanisation and the modernisation of agriculture will continue to increase the
demand for energy. This demand can only be met with new investment, increased
efficiency and rational pricing. Even as we plan to make more efficient use of
conventional sources of energy, we must invest in the development of
non-conventional sources. We will evolve an energy policy package that will
cover all sources of energy and will address all aspects like energy security,
access and availability, affordability and pricing, efficiently and
environment.”
In the light of the above the national coordination committee of electricity
employees and engineers have formulated an alternative framework to replace the
Electricity Act:2003 in order to attain the objectiveness enunciated by the
prime minister in his address to the nation after serious discussion. A
memorandum in this regard has been submitted to the prime minister by the
leaders of NCCOEEE.
The electricity employees & engineers must take upon themselves
the responsibility of explaining the details of the memorandum to the people.
The country’s development basically hinges on a proper power policy through
which development of power within a shortest possible time frame at affordable
cost. The Andhra Pradesh government implemented free power system for the
peasantry, and the government of Maharashtra has also announced the same. The
government of Tamil Nadu has implemented free power scheme and reduced the
domestic consumers power rates to the previous levels at April 2001.
These steps were taken by the governments promising the cost for
the same will be met through budgetary provisions. Thus it is proved the
subsidised power or free power for the poor sections of the peasantry is
essential for the economic development of the country. Other sections too like
small-scale industries, hospitals etc also must get subsudised power. Therefore
the power policy should give preference to low cost energy and profiteering in
this sector should be avoided and the system should be kept as a public utility.
We hope that the new government while considering the question of
new power policy all these facts shall be taken into account.
