Released on = January 24, 2007, 3:53 am

Press Release Author = DMA

Industry = Government

Press Release Summary = The hectic lobbying by the power secretary R V Shahi to get
a year\'s extension hit road block with Planning Commission vice-chairman Montek
Singh Ahluwalia urging Prime Minister
against it on the ground that Shahi has been favouring industrialist houses.


Press Release Body = New Delhi, Jan. 22 : The hectic lobbying by the power secretary
R V Shahi to get a year\'s extension hit road block with Planning Commission
vice-chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia urging Prime Minister
against it on the ground that Shahi has been favouring industrialist houses.

Shahi\'s move suffered a set back following a meeting between the Plan panel deputy
chief and Singh on Saturday. Ahluwalia was invited to attend an informal meeting of
the Prime Minister\'s energy coordination committee here on Saturday where the issue
of Shahi\'s extension came up while members were reviewing the progress made on the
power ministry\'s flagship programme accelerated power development programme.

Shahi\'s name figured as he was the architect of the program, which was aimed at
tackling huge losses in the country\'s power sector. Shahi had mooted the idea of
this program, which was accepted by the government.

However, a task force headed by former power secretary Abraham in its report
recommended total revamp of the program saying it has not been able to handle the
problem. As some members referred to Shahi\'s eagerness to get an extension,
Ahluwalia while intervening in the discussion urged the Prime Minister not to grant
extension to the officials who owe alligiance to business houses.

During his tenure as power secretary particularly after the privatization of power
sector, Shahi has been charged giving undue favours to some private power majors.
Whether or not he gets an extension will be cleared in few days. After what Montek
told the Prime Minister, Shahi is unlikely to get it, \"said a senior official in the
Prime Minister\'s Office.


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