Move to amend power Act

SHIMLA, JAN 20: In a controversial move, the Himachal Pradesh government plans to amend the Electricity Supply Act 1948 for accommodating...

SHIMLA, JAN 20: In a controversial move, the Himachal Pradesh government plans to amend the Electricity Supply Act 1948 for accommodating sitting MPs, MLAs and other politicians as members in the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board HPSEB.

Highly placed sources told ENS that the state government was approaching the Centre with a draft ordinance to seek permission of the Union Energy Ministry for making major amendments in the Act. The amendment mainly relate to the appointments of MPs and MLAs as members of the board and also certain relaxations in the criteria fixed for appointment of the chairman of the board.

Under the existing norms, only technocrats bureaucrats with a background as engineers could be made chairmen of the board. The politicians had been completely debarred from their nominations to the HPSEB unlike other boards and corporations. The technocrats, especially the high-ranking engineers, feel that nomination of the MPs, MLAs and other politicians would jeopardise the functioning of the board and is also bound to increase political interference.

However, major factors weighing on the mind of the government was that nomination of the MPs and MLAs would improve the functioning of the board beside ensuring a greater accountability in its working. The opposition Congress was, however, vehemently opposed to this and warned the government against such a retrogade step.

The senior government officials are working quite discreetly to get approval of the state cabinet and then write to the Centre for its permission to make amendments in the Act. When contacted, state Chief Secretary A.K Goswami expressed his reluctance to confirm or deny the move. Sources close to Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, however, confirmed that some exercise was already on but the government had not taken any final decision. 8220;Things are just at the examination stage and the government is well aware of its implications and advantages, if any,8221;a senior BJP leader said.

Sources in the Union Energy Minister, when approached said state electricity boards were already in deep trouble, financially as well as administratively. Any move to nominate politicians would further aggravate the situation. So far, the ministry had not received any proposal from Himachal Pradesh. 8220;If that comes, we will deal with it on its merits,8221; said an official.