Power Minister, Shri
Anant Geete has said that the Government is setting up a Rural
Electricity Supply Technology Mission to identify technologies
for decentralised generation for rural electrification. Shri Geete
was speaking at a two-day National Workshop on "Distribution
Generation for Power Supply in Rural Areas" here today.
This Technology Mission
would evolve a technology based strategy which could provide for
low cost power generation and low cost of delivery in the rural
areas which can be managed by local institutions like Village
Panchayats and NGOs. The Mission would also identify feasible
size of technology units for different fuels which are locally
available and for mini and micro hydel projects. The Minister
said that there is a liberal provision for rural electricity supply
in the Electricity Bill 2001.
Power Secretary,
Shri R.V.Shahi in his key-note address said that under the Electricity
Bill 2001 Stand Alone Distribution and Generation Systems for
Rural areas will not require a licence. He also said that under
the Mission a fund will be created for incubation of technologies.
Shri Ajai Vikaram
Singh, Secretary, Non-Conventional Energy Sources stressed the
need for organisational effort in increasing the pace of rural
electricity supply.
The two-day workshop
is organised by Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited under the auspices
of Ministries of Power and Non-Conventional Energy Sources.
