The Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2020 proposed by the Center violates the constitutional mandate and undermines the federal structure, said energy minister Nitin Raut.
He asked the Center to withdraw the bill. He said the Center intended to override and dominate the government’s responsibility in the management of power generation , transmission and distribution.
He said that, under the Seventh Schedule, the Constitution confers powers on both the Center and the State to make appropriate laws on matters relating to electricity.
He said the Centre’s amendments were intended to centralize power in its hands, making states a “weaker” power sector. He said the Center was trying to privatize distribution, transmission and generation for the benefit of some business houses.
