On 27/04/2021 the Ministry of Power issued a circular No 23/23/2019 -R&R of draft National Electricity Policy 2021 and giving a time limit of 21 days for submission of comments and objections. We are very much surprised and shocked to see the timing of the introduction of this NEP 2021 draft when the whole country is fighting unitedly to combat the deadly second surge of COVID - 19 Pandemic. Now with the introduction of this draft NEP 2021 at this crisis juncture power engineers across the country are shocked & having lot of resentment.
Further since the proposed NEP 2021 is of fundamental nature, creating major changes, these are required to be studied and analyzed in depth. All India Engineers Federation (AIPEF) is of the confirmed opinion that comments, views and objections of all the stakeholders must be obtained and given due consideration by the Government of India before finalising National Electricity Policy 2021.The most important stakeholders, the Electricity consumers and Power Employees & Engineers must be given a fair opportunity to submit their views and objections.
2. The All India Engineers Federation being a body of power engineers manning the electricity sector of all the States & UT's, spanning power generation, transmission and distribution, gets the feedback from electricity consumers, and other stakeholders of the power sector, particularly those who would be affected by the proposed NEP 2021.
While the All India Engineers Federation has interaction with electricity consumers, on the one hand, we also deal with the generator, distribution licensees as well as the Central and State govt. agencies in the power sector.
3. To do justice to the various subjects covered in the proposed draft, All India Power Engineers Federation would have to hold detailed interaction with the concerned stakeholders. Further, we would have to obtain the feedback from different constituent associations of the state power engineers as well as regional Federations of power engineers so as to consolidate and incorporate the same in our response to the Government. We would also have to hold a special meeting of the Federal Council (General Body Meeting) of All India Power Engineers Federation to finalise our response to proposed policy which would represent the view point of power engineers across the country.
4. However, due to the prevailing Pandemic crisis it would be practically and physically not possible to carry out the exercise to discuss in detail and obtain feedback for submission of comments regarding the proposed NEP 2021 within the small time frame of 21 days proposed.
5. Accordingly, All India Power Engineers Federation requests that the time period for submission of comments and objections to the proposed draft National Electricity Policy 2021 may kindly be extended at least for six months up to 31/10/2021.
Thank you with regards.
Sincerely Yours
Shailendra Dubey
Chairman