nTerming the Electricity Amendment Bill 2020 as “harmful” for the poor and farmers, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has urged the Centre to put it on hold for now considering the current situation in the country.
In his letter to Union Minister of State for Power R.K. Singh, the Chief Minister said that the Electricity Amendment Bill 2020 proposed by the Central government is harmful for the lower sections of the society and also seriously dented the federal structure.
The provision of cross subsidy provided in the proposed bill is impractical and not in the interests of farmers and poor people, the Congress leader underlined.
He said the farmers will face a crisis irrigating crops if the subsidy on electricity given to farmers is not continued. This will affect the production of food grains.
Therefore, the present provision of giving electricity subsidy to the people and farmer from the poorer sections is tested and the need of the hour. The Chief Minister said concessions to the deserving were necessary to make them self-sufficient and competent.
Baghel urged all the state governments to take care for the poorer sections and common people before implementing the proposed bill.
Defending the present Direct Benefit Transfer System, he said changing it would derail the poor as well as small and marginal farmers. If a farmer consumes 1,000 units of electricity to irrigate every month during the farming season, he will have to pay Rs 7-8,000, which will be impossible for him.
The Chief Minister said the proposed bill could suit the upper classes and consultants who sit in air-conditioned rooms. The implementation of the bill will create many problems and harm poor farmers and common people.
He said the reduction of rights of the state governments and the appointment of the State Electricity Regulatory Commission under the union government through this amendment violates the federal structure.
The Electricity Amendment Bill provides for promoting privatization in electricity. Under this, there is also a provision for the appointment of sub-licensees and franchisees. This is against the policy of checks and balances as sub-licensees and franchisees are not obliged to take licenses from the regulatory commission.
Describing the power distribution system as the lifeline of the general public, the Chief Minister said that it will not be appropriate in any case to entrust it to private companies. This bill promotes capitalism and allows private companies to take possession of the Electricity Board, he said.
Baghel said the bill proposes the formation of a Centralized Electrical Contract Enforcement Authority (ECEA).
He argued that when the Supreme Court has already looked into the issue and settled it, there is no justification for the formation of a new body.
In relation to the tariff policy, the proposal actually dehumanizes the State Electricity Regulatory Commission as well as this federal structure, which respects the demographic and economic diversity of states.
The proposed amendment also empowers the central government to preserve renewable and hydroelectric procurement obligations. Different states have different resources. In view of this, it will not be appropriate to implement it for the whole country.