Union Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde is seemingly unhappy over Montek Singh Ahluwalia’s selection of the expert group, under economist Dr Kirit Parikh, for working out a strategy for a low carbon pathway for India.
The 26-member group under Dr Parikh was constituted by the Planning Commission on January 7, soon after the Copenhegan climate summit.
In his letter of March 3 to Ahluwalia, who is deputy chairman of Planning Commission, Shinde expressed concern over the non-inclusion of a power ministry representative.
“The representative of the ministry of power, based on the knowledge and overview of the power sector, would be able to highlight concerns relevant to power sector during formulation of the strategy for a low carbon economy,” Shinde told Ahluwalia.
“Ministry of Power, which is the planning and implementation instrument of Government of India in the energy sector, has been perhaps inadvertently left out,” Shinde said.
“This is not true,” Parikh told Hindustan Times. “We have representatives of Bureau of Energy Efficiency and Central Electricity Authority, the two technical bodies under the Ministry of Power, as part of the Expert Group.”
Asked to comment on Shinde’s letter, he said, “I cannot say anything more. You must ask Dr Ahluwalia.” However, Ahluwalia was unavailable for comments.
{{/usCountry}}Asked to comment on Shinde’s letter, he said, “I cannot say anything more. You must ask Dr Ahluwalia.” However, Ahluwalia was unavailable for comments.
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