Starting this September, the fuel supply agreements (FSAs) signed by different entities will have a clause for independent audit and sampling of coal being supplied.
The Union Power Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia sees this as
a big step forward. "I have already received the coal ministry's timeline on the issue," he told MAIL TODAY.
Around five months after taking over one of the most crucial infrastructure ministries of the country, Scindia believes that his most crucial achievement has been putting up institutionalised structures in place for inter- and intra-ministerial issues.
"These can't be just formalities with advisory groups meeting only once every year," Scindia said.
Infact he has set advisory groups on several key issues: coal and gas, hydro (power), transmission and modification to the electricity act. The young minister has taken a similar route for
power ministry's dealings with other key ministries like the Ministry of Environment and Forests and the coal ministry.
And it is largely because of this mechanism that the power ministry has managed to secure clearances to 2,620 MW of hydro projects in the last few months. The power ministry has also been able to expedite the
stage 1 clearances for around 16 transmission projects and stage two clearances for 10 transmission projects.
Scindia believes that the country's trouble marred power sector won't see a complete revival and growth "unless each aspect of the sector's value chain is identified and made independently viable." As a part of this effort, in the recent months the ministry has separately focused on the "four clear verticals," as Scindia defines them. These are generation, transmission, distribution and the last mile issues.
The power ministry hopes to resolve some of its issues with the coal ministry, specially those pertaining to supply.
"While there is never going to be a point when there are no issues, we are very hopeful that it will be resolved or else we'll take it up with the Cabinet Committee on Investment," the minister said.
Another issue that has received the minister's attention is the country's over reliance on a single fuel (hydrocarbons) for power generation.
"We realise that the longer term diversity in portfolio is very important over the next ten years. With this in mind, we are looking at addressing the issues of the hydropower sector which has a longer gestation period. Several of its associated issues are being addressed and we are already on track as per our last assessment for the first year of the current plan," Scindia said.
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