(ET)
The NITI Aayog has proposed a common nodal energy ministry on the lines of the model followed in various other countries to streamline governance among different ministries and departments pertaining to the crucial sector and speed up decision-making.
The Aayog, the government’s premier think tank, has included the proposal in its second draft of the National Energy Policy following suggestions from its vice chairman Rajiv Kumar. If implemented, the proposal would help sort out governance issues among the ministries of petroleum and natural gas, power, coal, new and renewable energy, and the Department of Atomic Energy.
The first draft of the National Energy Policy, under the then vice chairman Arvind Panagariya, did not touch upon the issue of streamlining governance in the energy sector. The second draft is awaiting inter-ministerial comments, following which the National Energy Policy is expected to be finalised. The Narendra Modi-led government made a start in this direction when Piyush Goyal was given charge of three ministries, namely power, coal, and new and renewable energy in 2016.
