New Delhi | Apr 30, 2017: A conference of state power ministers will get underway on May 3 here which will discuss preparedness of states for auction of mineral rich blocks, curb on illegal mining, among other issues. Union Power Minister Piyush Goyal will inaugurate the two-day event. State ministers, PSUs and senior officials will be present, an official statement said.

The main purpose of the conference is to review the implementation of various ongoing schemes and programmes and deliberate on a host of issues pertaining to power, mining, coal and renewable energy sectors. "In the mining sector, deliberations will concentrate on important issues such as auction preparedness of blocks for 2017-18 already under preparation by the states," the statement said.

This apart, the status of project implementation under Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana (PMKKKY), curbing illegal mining through mining surveillance system (MSS) with specific reference to the Illegal sand mining and minor mineral rules will be deliberated, it said.

Issues related to the power sector like implementation of 24x7 power supply, strategies and action plan for 100 per cent household electrification and smart metering power reforms, energy conservation, energy efficient agriculture pumps, cyber security and promotion of digital payments in power sector will also be discussed.

In the area of renewable energy, the ministers will discuss guidelines for renewable projects.

For the coal sector, deliberations will focus on issues like flexibility in utilisation of domestic coal for reducing cost of power generation and use of domestic coal instead of imported coal.

(Source: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/)