Summary:
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Experts in the electricity sector expressed concerns over the impact the proposed changes in the Central Electricity Act would have on power sector in Kerala Power minister M M Mani inaugurated the workshop. Based on the feedback received in the workshop, the state government would apprise the Centre of the changes to be incorporated in the bill. There is no change in the original proposal that power generation and distribution should strictly be separated. As per the amendment, the government subsidy, if any to weaker sections, should be directly credited in the bank account of beneficiaries. The proposals in this direction would pose severe challenges, the participants said.Though state governments would continue to hold the right to appoint members the members in state power regulatory commissions, unlike the current practice, a selection committee appointed by the Centre would be clearing the names..