Power sector gets a budgetary allocation of Rs15,322 crore.

<p>Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday made a budgetary allocation of Rs15,322 crore for the union power ministry for the next financial year, which is 3.48% lower than Rs15874.82 crore that was allocated in the current financial year (2020-21).</p><p>Mint reported on 28 January about the proposed allocation, with the highest allocation expected for schemes such as the Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS), aimed at ensuring round-the-clock electricity supply, and the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY) to provide electricity in rural areas. IPDS and DDUGJY have been allocated Rs5300 crore and Rs3600 crore respectively.</p><p>"The distribution companies across the country are monopolies, either government or private. There is a need to provide choice to consumers by promoting competition. A framework will be put in place to give consumers alternatives to choose from among more than one Distribution Company," Sitharaman said while presenting her third union budget at a time, when India’s electricity demand recorded a new high of 189.6 gigawatts (GW) on Saturday.</p><p> </p><p><i>[source: livemint.com, 01/02/2021]</i></p>

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