MINISTER ENERGY URGES CENTRE TO COOPERATE ON ENERGY SECTOR

Bureau,Odishabarta

 Bhubaneswar:Odisha Energy Minister Captain Dibya Shankar Mishra has urged Union Energy Minister R K Singh to reduce the rate of interest up to 6 percent on loan taken for the energy sector.

Captain Mishra, in a letter, has even urged the Union Minister to increase the redemption period to 15 years in view of coronavirus pandemic.

He said the energy sector of the state is very badly hit due to severe cyclonic storm like Fani, Bulbul and Amphan in the past and added that the present coronavirus pandemic has further devastated it. The government has brought in a number of reforms in the sector, but due to shortfall in the consumption of electricity, the companies are undergoing financial hardships.

The minister in his letter said the power distributing companies are not in a position to collect fees from the people due to the onslaught of coronavirus.

Captain Mishra said the government has handed over 51 per cent equity to a private distribution company to streamline activities in power sector, but the result is awaited. The coronavirus pandemic has played spoilsport.

The minister had earlier suggested the Centre on July 3 via videoconferencing on these topics and urged the Union Ministry to consider the matter sympathetically.

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