Hours earlier than the 2 Houses of Parliament have been adjourned sine die on Monday, 4 days forward of schedule (August 12), the federal government launched the contentious Electricity Amendment Bill-2022 within the Lok Sabha to allow the entry of personal gamers in India’s energy distribution panorama.
Tabled amid stiff opposition from the Congress, TMC, DMK and the Left, the Bill was referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on power after Union Power Minister RK Singh made a associated reference, terming the draft laws “pro-people and pro-farmer” and accusing the Opposition of “false propaganda.” He stated there was no provision within the Bill to chop energy subsidies to farmers.
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha had just lately warned the federal government towards bringing this Bill, saying its withdrawal was one of many principal calls for of the year-long farmers’ motion. “On December 9, 2021, the government, in a letter to the SKM, had said that there will be a discussion with all stakeholders on the provisions in the Electricity Amendment Bill, which affect farmers. No discussions have taken place,” the SKM had identified.
Congress chief within the Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury referred to the Centre’s promise to the SKM immediately whereas MP Manish Tewari articulated the social gathering’s issues. “This Bill seeks to amend the Constitution through a statute and is beyond the legislative competence of this House. The amendment substantially weakens the power of the states by allowing multiple private agencies to distribute power in one place, paving the way for privatisation of profits and nationalisation of losses,” Tewari argued. He stated below the Bill, the Centre had been empowered to situation licences to multi-state distribution corporations with no session with states.
RSP’s NK Premachandran stated the Bill would permit indiscriminate privatisation, was towards the federal construction and violated the precept of session with states on a concurrent record topic. The Union Minister allayed these apprehensions.
Noting that the federal government had made a reference for the Bill to be despatched to the Parliamentary Standing Committee for a wider debate, he defined: “This Bill does not cut any current subsidies being given to the farmers. On the Opposition’s objection to multiple licences in one place, this provision existed even in the parent law. They are making false statements to mislead the people. All states and stakeholders were consulted.”
It’s pro-farmer, Oppn deceptive
This Bill doesn’t lower present subsidies being given to farmers. Free energy to farmers will proceed. The Opposition is deceptive the folks. — RK Singh, Union Power Minister
RK Singh, Union Power Minister
Third least productive session
The monsoon session — the ninth session of the seventeenth Lok Sabha — was the third least productive, logging 44.29 hours after the sixth session which sat for 21.21 hours and the fourth session which sat for the least variety of 60 hours.
