For the Power Ministers Conference of 03 July 2020, the Ministry of Power issued a presentation titled Proposed draft amendments to Electricity Act 2003 .This presentation discusses the various proposed amendments and in the concluding part at slide 28 it states
Way Forward
· State Governments/State Power Utilities comments have been received .
· Based on comments of all stakeholders the draft proposed amendments shall be modified suitably.
2. As indicated above, there is a clear commitment of the Government that it will modify the proposed amendments on the basis of comments received.
3. The All India Power Engineers Federation (AIPEF) therefore requests that GOI should implement its commitment and modify the proposed amendments after taking due cognizance of the comments/objections received . We may further stress that as many as 12 States have strongly objected to the amendments proposed , and in accordance with the “way forward’’ indicated by GOI document, these objections must be taken into account so as to amend the proposals for amendment.
4. We further suggest that after incorporating the objections, particularly by the 12 States and bodies such as AIPEF/Engineers Associations of States & other Employees Federations, GOI must put on its website the amended document so that all stakeholders can ascertain whether their objections have been incorporated.
5. The stakeholders must be given another opportunity to respond to the amended draft and submit their further comments accordingly to the Government. This is all the more required as the Govt did not extend the last date for comments despite requests from AIPEF and other stakeholders . In view of constraints caused by the corona virus crisis, the Government should have extended the time. It is now all the more justified to put the amended draft in public domain and give stake holders an opportunity to respond /comment.
6. AIPEF strongly cautions against any attempt by Govt to rush through the draft amendments and to give ample opportunity to respond/comment since the stakeholders do not know the details of amendments now incorporated.
Thank you with regards.
Yours Sincerely
Shailendra Dubey
Chairman