Chief Minister Smt. Vasundhara Raje has urged the union government to provide full operational funding to state power companies for next five years. She also demanded for reduction of interest rate on loans.

Smt. Raje met the Union Minister of State for Power Shri Piyush Goyal in this regard at New Delhi on Friday. She discussed the issues pertaining to power scenario of the state with him and senior officials of his ministry. She expressed gratitude for the amount sanctioned to the state by Power Finance Corporation and Rural Electrification Corporation.

The CM said that to improve and strengthen economic condition of the state DISCOMs a loan of Rs. 8,000 crore was required at the minimum interest rate. To ensure smooth functioning of the DISCOMs, further assistance should be provided through banks for the next five years, she said.

Smt. Raje underlined that three years’ term for financial restructuring package was not sufficient and the same should be extended further. She said that considering the geographical condition of Rajasthan, the union government should provide additional grant to the state so that the state could become self-reliant in power sector.
Principal Secretary Energy Shri Sanjay Malhotra and other officers were also present during the meeting.

New Delhi/Jaipur, 17 April 2015