PM assures resolution to power sector woes; Cos to be set up

During their meeting with Singh,the industrialists highlighted the problems like acute fuel shortages,pricing issues related to imported coal for power projects,delay in environment and forest clearances,funding problems,worsening health of power distribution companies and a proposal to slap duty on imported power equipment.

After hearing them out,the Prime Minister assured the industrialists that a “practical,pragmatic and viable solution” will be found to the plethora of problems facing the power generation and distribution sector.

He said a Committee of Secretaries,headed by Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Pulok Chatterji,would be set up immediately to look into the problems faced by the power sector,an official statement said.

The committee would chalk out 30-day,60-day and 90-day plans to resolve the issues. The power sector leaders would meet with the Prime Minister after a period of 90 days to review the progress,sources said.

Secretaries from the Ministries of Power,Petroleum,Coal,Environment and Finance would be a part of the panel,sources said.