Maharashtra govt to soon come out with pro-industrialist energy policy

Mumbai, 30th January 2020: New energy policy will be drafted regarding the arrears to be paid by agriculture electricity consumers in the state and for the growth of the industry, informed Energy Minister Dr. Nitin Raut. A meeting was held with the senior officers of the Energy Department. Raut communicated after the meeting.

Farmers are important and the Energy Department wants to work for their welfare.  Raut instructed the concerned department to draft a policy that will mark down farmers’ arrears. Farmers will directly get electricity bills through Urjamitra (volunteers working on village-level). Urjamitra will discuss with farmers about their arrears and concessions. Such points will be added to the new policy.

Electricity provided to industrialists and its rates will be reconsidered. Dr. Raut said that a new energy policy would be drafted. It will be a pro-industrialist policy so more industrialists will be interested in Maharashtra and the industry will grow.

Hiring Gram Panchayat

Private companies are hired to recover electricity bills. The same model should be used in the state. One Gram Panchayat in six divisions should be deployed on an experimental basis to recover electricity bills. MIDC should be deployed as per their demands. Energy Department should create a proposal regarding it. Such discussions were made in the meeting. Dr. Raut also instructed the department to take action on pending proposals and arrears pending at the government.

Principal Secretary of Energy Department Engg. Asim Gupta, Director of Commerce Satish Chavan, Executive Director  Gadkari and other officers were present in the meeting.