SUSHILKUMAR Shinde, who has been shunted from the power portfolio to Home, has expressed the view that power failure is a global phenomenon.
In many foreign countries, he says, power failures occur. And in the United States it takes four days to fix a power failure. Is he trying to explain away the huge power crisis that has affected more than 68 crore people?
According to experts, the power failure was waiting to happen. Three states – particularly Uttar Pradesh – were overdrawing power. There might have been political considerations in this regard.
Has the government taken the right decision to replace Shinde by Veerappa Moily who is in charge of another portfolio? He might not be having any clue to the power situation in the country. He will be completely new at the job and by the time he has a hang of it all, there could be some more grid collapses.
It is necessary to stress the fact that power generation and distribution is vital for survival activities. In case of a power failure, to deal with the situation is a highly professional job. The ministers who are put in charge of power appear to be convinced that power failure is unavoidable.
It is necessary perhaps that a new system should be put in place in the power sector. A Shinde or a Moily cannot be expected to take on the job and deliver.