The power ministry on Monday extended the deadline for submission of stakeholders’ comments on the draft Electricity Amendment Bill by four weeks till June 5. The ministry had circulated the draft bill on April 17, 2020 with a deadline to submit comments in three weeks till May 8.
“This Ministry has received requests from various stakeholders for extension of time for submission of comments on the draft Amendments. Accordingly it has been decided to extend the time period for submission of comments/ observations/ suggestions on the draft Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2020 to this Ministry till June 5, 2020,” a ministry order said.
Earlier last month the All India Power Engineers’ Federation (AIPEF) had shot off a letter to Power Minister R K Singh demanding that the proposed date of receipt of comments on the draft bill should be extended to September 30 as no discussion can take place due to the lockdown.
Last month, the ministry has come out with fourth draft of the Electricity (Amendment) Bill since 2014, which seeks to set up an Electricity Contract Enforcement Authority (ECEA) having power of a civil court to settle disputes related to power purchase agreement between discoms and gencos.
Source: PTI