Union Minister Manohar Lal Reviews Power Sector in Andaman and Nicobar Islands
On Friday, Union Minister for Power and Housing and Urban Affairs, Manohar Lal, visited Sri Vijaya Puram to review the power sector in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The meeting included Lieutenant Governor D K Joshi and senior officials from the UT administration, Ministry of Power, and Power Sector CPSEs.
The Power Ministry presented an overview of the current power scenario, highlighting power availability, generation, and the demand-supply gap. Discussions included challenges and potential solutions, focusing on projects for interconnecting the islands through grid and distribution infrastructure improvements under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS).
Manohar Lal emphasized reducing reliance on diesel by increasing renewable energy sources like wind power and exploring alternative energy sources such as ethanol. He also stressed the importance of Electric Vehicles and charging stations, and the need for timely settlement of government dues to improve financial viability.
The minister assured continued support from the Government of India for the UT’s development, urging the administration to implement RDSS reforms and improve AT&C losses and the ACS-ARR Gap.
Doubts Revealed
Union Minister -: A Union Minister is a person who is part of the central government of India and is responsible for a specific department or ministry, like health, education, or power.
Manohar Lal -: Manohar Lal is a person who holds a position in the Indian government, specifically as a Union Minister, and is involved in making decisions about the power sector.
Power Sector -: The power sector refers to the part of the economy that deals with the production and distribution of electricity to homes, businesses, and other places.
Andaman and Nicobar Islands -: The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are a group of islands located in the Bay of Bengal, which is part of India. They are known for their beautiful beaches and diverse wildlife.
Grid Interconnection -: Grid interconnection means connecting different power sources together to form a network that can supply electricity more efficiently and reliably.
Renewable Energy -: Renewable energy comes from natural sources that can be replenished, like sunlight, wind, and water, and is used to produce electricity without harming the environment.
Diesel Reliance -: Diesel reliance means depending on diesel fuel to produce electricity, which is not very environmentally friendly and can be expensive.
Electric Vehicle Infrastructure -: Electric vehicle infrastructure includes the facilities and equipment needed to support electric vehicles, like charging stations where people can charge their electric cars.
Government of India -: The Government of India is the central authority that governs the country, making laws and decisions for the welfare of its people.
UT -: UT stands for Union Territory, which is a type of administrative division in India that is directly governed by the central government. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are one such Union Territory.