Coal imports to be brought to zero in 2-21/2 years: Goyal

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Power, Coal, New and Renewable Energy Piyush Goyal said on Wednesday that the Government will ensure that in the coming 2-2.5 years coal imports will be brought to zero. “When I came in coal was a burning issue. We have ensured now that the situation that there are adequate quantities of coal across the country. I see a situation in two to two and half years down the road where coal imports will be brought to a complete zero,” said the minister while interacting with journalists at Indian Women Press Corps (IWPC) in the Capital.

Power is a very important concern of the Government he stressed. The Central government would gradually like States to raise power prices, but they must decide by themselves he stated. “Tariff setting is the prerogative of regulators. We are trying to introduce an innovative way on how these tariffs can be increased more gradually over a longer period of time rather than burdening the people with very massive jumps. 

“At the end of the day the people of India will not pay for inefficiencies in our operations. People will pay what is a fair cost for power and increases in price will be fair, for that we have a regulatory mechanism which determines what is correct pricing,” he added.

He said that concern for the environment also plays a critical role. Hitting out at America on <g data-gr-id="64">environmental</g> issue, Goyal said: “I must make it clear that India is not responsible for what has happened to the environment. If one had to assess all the greenhouse gas emissions that have caused this distress, then <g data-gr-id="63">United States of America</g> alone has caused <g data-gr-id="43">one fourth</g> of those emissions. India’s share is a mere 3 <g data-gr-id="44">per cent</g>.” People of India have always respected the environment, he 

further said.

On the <g data-gr-id="54">Discom</g> issue, the minister said, “In the <g data-gr-id="55">Discom</g> package there are many issues largely focused on efficiency, helping bring down interest costs, supporting with upgradation of infrastructure, ensuring that a framework is created that in future <g data-gr-id="56">Discom</g> losses cannot be allowed to continue and parked in a <g data-gr-id="57">Discom</g>, without responsibility of the concerned state. Final stages of discussions and consultation to further improve the framework in underway and I do hope to see in the near future more details to be coming to you.” He also added, “In all our efforts while we are reviving these Discoms and turning them around with a resolution on a permanent basis, we will ensure that not a single employee of the power sector is displaced. Everybody will be taken care of,” he added.

Goyal said the focus of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy from being solely on subsidy has now shifted to “efficiency of delivery”. “The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, is today 33 years old. That is the difference between this government and the past, for 32 years the focus was on subsidy, in 16 months of this new government the focus is on efficiency of delivery and large scale economies of benefit to the people and ability to achieve of these large scales cannot be on the back of subsidy,” he explained.

On Centre-State relation, he said the focus of the Narendra Modi-Government is on “collective and collaborative federalism”. He explained, “We are a Government which has respect for cooperative federalism. We are continuously interacting with all states and working closely with them.  I have had several rounds of discussions with several states which are facing problems and working towards a solution which finds acceptance on <g data-gr-id="71">power</g> sector.” 

He said that “the idea is to empower the states and work in partnership with them.” He added that they had received “wonderful support from every state.” In a pertinent <g data-gr-id="68">example</g> he said when solar parks were being needed to be identified States were competing with each other to provide the required facilities. 

“I am happy to report that 25 solar parks have been finalized. Now I may have to go back to Cabinet for another 25,” he said. The minister stressed that each of the states <g data-gr-id="72">have</g> been “proactively” involved.