District Level Committees for Power Related Schemes

• 20 Sep 2021

Why in News

Recently, the Ministry of Power has issued an order for the setting up of District Level Committees to improve the quality of electricity supply in the country.

Key Points

• District Level Committees:
  
  • About:
    
    • All States and Union Territories will have to notify and ensure establishment of these District Electricity committees, under intimation to the Ministry of Power.
    • It will oversee all power related schemes of the government and also its impact on the provision of services to the people. It will meet at District Headquarters at least once in three months.
  • Composition:
    
    • The committee would comprise the most senior member of Parliament (MP) in the district as the Chairperson, other MPs in the district as Co-chairpersons, District Collector as Member Secretary, among others.
• Power Sector in India:
  
  • About:
    
    • India’s power sector is one of the most diversified in the world. Sources of power generation range from conventional sources such as coal, lignite, natural gas, oil, hydro and nuclear power to viable non-conventional sources such as wind, solar, and agricultural and domestic waste.
    • India is the third-largest producer and second-largest consumer of electricity in the world.
      
      • 100% FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) is permitted under automatic route in the power sector.
    • Electricity is a concurrent subject (Seventh Schedule of the Constitution).
  • Nodal Agency:
    
    • The Ministry of Power is primarily responsible for the development of electrical energy in the country.
      
      • It administers the Electricity Act, 2003 and the Energy Conservation Act, 2001.
  • Roadmap for Future:
    
    • The Government has released its roadmap to achieve 175 GW capacity in renewable energy by 2022, which includes 100 GW of solar power and 60 GW of wind power.
      
      • The Government is preparing a 'rent a roof' policy for supporting its target of generating 40 gigawatts (GW) of power through solar rooftop projects by 2022.
      • The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) is the nodal Ministry for all matters relating to new and renewable energy.
• Related Government Initiatives:
  
  • Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana (Saubhagya): To ensure electrification of all willing households in the country in rural as well as urban areas.
  • Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY): Provides for separation of agriculture and non-agriculture feeders, strengthening and augmentation of sub-transmission and distribution infrastructure in rural areas including metering at distribution transformers, feeders and consumers end.
  • GARV (Grameen Vidyutikaran) App: To monitor transparency in implementation of the electrification schemes, Grameen Vidyut Abhiyanta (GVAs) have been appointed by the government to report progress through the GARV app.
  • Ujwal Discom Assurance Yojana (UDAY): For operational and financial turnaround of Discoms.
  • 4 Es in the Revised Tariff Policy: The 4Es include Electricity for all, Efficiency to ensure affordable tariffs, Environment for a sustainable future, Ease of doing business to attract investments and ensure financial viability.

Source: PIB