Amitabh Kant of NITI Aayog Wants to Ban Fossil Fuel Based Gensets

Stressing on tough steps to reform power sector, Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant  pitched for ban on use of fossil fuel based gensets saying that the government needs to do it before a court order six months down the line.

He also made case for phasing out more than 25 year old coal based thermal power plants, creating of open access power market, commercial coal mining and promoting renewables.

“You need to prohibit use and sale of gensets including captive which are using petrol, diesel, kerosene, pet coke and furnace oil for power supply. This is polluting and brings inefficiency in power sector. ...Whether we like it or not, if Government does not do it, six months down the line courts will do that,” Kant said addressing an inaugural session of 21st India Power Forum 2018 here.

Kant further noted that, if the Government bans generator sets (gensets), the strengthening distribution system would be required to ensure round-the-clock power supply and said “we need to do heavy penalty for load shedding. This require series of tough measure.”

In the proposed Electricity Amendment Bill, consumer would be able to switch service providers in electricity sector like they do for telecom services.

On the issue to safeguard new investments in power sector, he said, “We clearly need to phase out plants which are more than 25 years old. NTPC, BHEL and some others may not like it but this is necessary”.

Strongly recommending privatisation of coal mining, he said,”all this theories of nationalisation coal mines is not worth” and said that Government should allow private sector to step in for commercial mining.