Power Minister Piyush Goyal Friday said the NDA government will pursue a three-pronged strategy to enhance generation and ensure continuous power supply."I can assure this house that we are committed to our task of providing 24-7 power to every home and to every industrial and commercial establishment irrespective of the state and irrespective of the government in any state," Goyal said during the debate on a private member's resolution in the Rajya Sabha. The government was working on a three-pronged strategy that consists of increasing coal output, addressing transmission and distribution issues and pursuing alternative avenues like renewable, clean energy resources, Goyal said.
He ascribed power shortages to faulty coal block allocation policies of the earlier UPA government. "The country is facing the crisis as a result of wrong methods adopted in allocation of coal blocks in an effort to fulfil the dream of power for all till 2012. This is the truth that I have inherited," Goyal said."All power plants coming up till March 31, 2015 should be given adequate stock of coal or an option to import, Goyal said, adding that such a commitment has been made in the government's budget presentation. The government was expediting environment and forest clearances, land acquisition and other issues, as well as looking at rationalisation of transportation linkages which would result in savings to the tune of Rs.1,000 crore, the minister added.