Dubbing the Plan's aim to add 100,000 Mw to India's existing power generation capacity of around 165,000 Mw as “ecologically unsustainable", Ramesh suggested aiming for less than the targeted seven per cent annual rate of growth of generation.
Reacting sharply, cabinet ministers P Chidambaram, Dayanidhi Maran, Sharad Pawar, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Kapil Sibal and PC deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia reportedly rejected Ramesh's view. It was felt if India could not increase power generation by this much over the 12th Plan (2012-17), it would not be possible to sustain a nine per cent yearly rate of growth of the economy, not to mention the desired 10 per cent.
In response, Ramesh asked why the PC needed to aim for a particular growth target. The aim of the 12th Plan should be good governance, rural development, infrastructure development and so forth. If good policies were adopted, the rate of growth would automatically increase. Instead of setting a growth target, the plan document should only list relevant policies, Ramesh felt. Read the full report here.
Source: BS Reporter, Business Standard, New Delhi.
