Draft regarding change in Electricity Act 2020

Our Union Government is ready with a draft to change the existing Electricity Act. This new draft will essentially scrap any direct subsidiary and subsequently transfer the same to consumer accounts. Additionally, it proposes fixing of tarrif by a special created authority.

We are all aware that in most places distribution of electricity lies in the hands of big corporations - primarily giants like Ambani and Adani groups. We are getting more reports and evidence each passing day about corruption in different government direct transfer schemes whether it's a Gas, Manrega, Kisan Nidhi, etc. And this might be a continuation of our Government’s corruption laden unfortunate rule. 

Under the severe ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, where there is a lack of disposable income in the economy for a majority of the citizens and the performance of the Central Government in installing confidence has been almost deplorable, an increase in the Electricity bill for the common man will seriously be an additional burden.

Farmers who are not even getting a good MSP and are in fact struggling to survive, the additional cost of input will seriously harm them. Recently Government of India has increased the MSP but has not considered the price of increasing inputs, hence the effect is either zero or in fact negligible.

Since Electricity is on the concurrent list so this move is in fact a violation of the spirit of Cooperative Federalism. Hence, Public, other parties and the judiciary should come forward and stop the Central Government from implementing this Act which is not in the favor of the country and enhances corruption.

Jai Hind

Manoj joshi