‘Independent audit of grids in 3 months’

The Minister today reviewed the power sector situation and discussed various action plans with Chief Ministers of Delhi,Rajasthan and Uttarakhand as well as representatives from five other northern states and Chandigarh.

Speaking to reporters,Moily said third party audit of power grids would be completed in three months and the process would be monitored by regional power committees.

“We cannot afford to stop essential services like (Delhi) Metro or hospitals… also may include farming services,though not right now,may be in the future,” he said.

The defence plans of states,in case of grid failures,should include islanding schemes,special protection and automatic demand management schemes.

Grid defence planning is an extremely important part of Grid Operations and the states must attach priority to this,Moily added.

According to the Minister,states would prepare long,medium- and short- term plans regarding procurement of power as well as demand management. The progress would be reviewed by the regional power committees.

Earlier in the day,Power Secretary P Uma Shankar chaired a meeting that was attended by members of various sectoral bodies and Power Grid,besides officials from eight northern states and Chandigarh UT,among others.