LS passes Power Bill with couple of amendments

The two official amendments were moved in response to opposition voiced by ruling BJP’s allies AIADMK and Akali Dal who feared that the scheme of free power supply to farmers would be done away with under the Bill.

Replying to a four-hour discussion on the Bill, Power Minister PR Kumaramangalam made it clear that the legislation did not infringe on the states’ jurisdiction.

Kumaramangalam said the Bill did not intend to take away States’sright to subsidise power to any section of consumers but it only wanted such a scheme should be transparent and the electricity boards should be reimbursed in cash by the states to the extent of subsidy.