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Finance Minister's Budget Speech - Part 2

Part I

Power

22. The importance of power in fuelling economic growth cannot be over emphasised. The total cost to the State Electricity Boards of implicit subsidies amounts to about Rs 36,000 crore this year. After accounting for cross subsidy and State subventions, actual commercial losses of all SEBs combined are estimated to be about Rs 24,000 crore. Hidden in these loss figures are extremely high T&D losses.

23. Although all of these losses are borne by SEBs and State Governments, I have to express my concern on this issue since this is a massive national loss and affects Central Government undertakings also. The total dues owed to Central Government utilities by SEBs and others now amount to over Rs 25,000 crore. If these resources were available, the country would have no difficulty in investing adequately in power sector expansion to the benefit of all. Theft of electricity must be stopped and economic tariffs levied.

24. The most vital element of the reform process is the restoration of financial viability of the State Electricity Boards (SEBs). On the basis of consensus that has progressively emerged in the National Development Council Resolution of 1992, the Common Minimum National Action Programme drawn up in 1996 and the Power Ministers' Conference of February 2000, the Central Government is accelerating the programme of reforms in SEBs on the basis of specific milestones that are being built into MOUs entered into with State Governments. These MOUs include specific milestones such as:

* A time bound programme for installation of 100 per cent metering by December 2001.

* Energy audit at all levels.

* A specific programme for reduction and eventual elimination of power theft.

* Tariff determination by SERCs and compliance thereof.

* Commercialisation of distribution and

* SEB restructuring.

To demonstrate the importance of this task, the Prime Minister will hold a meeting of State Chief Ministers on March 3, 2001.

25. MOUs have already been entered into with 5 States and we expect more States to adopt the reform process. Accordingly, plan allocation to the Accelerated Power Development Programme (APDP) has been stepped up to Rs 1500 crore next year from a level of Rs 1000 crore this year. Priority under APDP would be given to those states that undertake such reform. The key to restoration of financial viability is reform of distribution. Assistance from the Fiscal Reform Incentive Fund recommended by the 11th Finance Commission would also, inter-alia, be linked to the achievement of power reforms. The reforming States would also receive support from the Central Government in form of preferential allocation of power to SEBs from CPSUs, additional investment by CPSUs in generation and transmission, and preferential allocation of external aid.

26. In order to help accelerate the reform process in the power sector and to unify all existing central legislation in the sector, my colleague the Minister for Power will introduce the Electricity Bill 2001 within this session.

27. The Plan outlay for central sector power utilities is being raised from Rs 9,194 crore this year to Rs 10,030 crore for 2001-02. This demonstrates the commitment of the Central Government to accelerate public sector power investment along with power sector reforms.

Roads

28. The National Highway Development Programme (NHDP) represents a new road vision for this country. Its unprecedented scale is symbolic of government's earnestness to provide connectivity and mobility of an altogether different order. The key to government's success in accelerating the road development programme lies in its bold policy of levying a cess on petrol and diesel as a user charge for road usage. Resources for Phase I, to be completed by December 2003, have already been tied up. Work has already been awarded for more than 1500 Kms. of the golden quadrilateral in addition to the completed sections totaling 600 Kms. The balance portion is expected to be awarded by the middle of this year.

29. The cess has paved the way for integrated road development in the country, including village roads, district roads, state roads, and national highways. Rs 962 crore from the cess fund are being made available to States for state roads. The total plan outlay for this sector is being enhanced by 93 per cent to Rs 8727 crore in 2001-02.

Telecom

30. Another area of success is in the telecommunications sector. Almost all the policy measures announced in the New Telecom Policy 1999 regarding basic and cellular services, national long distance, Internet services, and corporatisation of Department of Telecom Services have been implemented. Competition is being introduced in all service segments.

31. By March 2001, overall teledensity is expected to reach 3.5 per hundred, about double the teledensity of only two years ago. Moreover, the new competition has already reduced prices for consumers. There are now almost 800,000 STD/ISD/Local booths around the country bringing telephone service within reach of almost all consumers, apart from generating considerable employment.

32. Looking ahead, having recognised the imperatives of technological change in this area, the Government proposes to introduce the Convergence Bill to cover telecommunications, information technology, and information and broadcasting sectors in an integrated manner.

Ports

33. Coming to the port sector, I am glad to report that policy initiatives designed to increase private sector participation in ports has also been successfully implemented. Overall, capacity in Indian major ports is expected to go up to 314 million tonnes this year and further to 376 million tonnes by the end of 2001-2002, along with substantial capacity addition in minor ports. There is now adequate capacity in major ports. Ships no longer have to wait for berths as was the case before.

34. Ennore port has already been corporatised and Jawahar Lal Nehru Port in New Mumbai is next, and with experience, other major ports can also be corporatised, enabling them to raise resources in the market. Successful investment is being enabled by the setting of economic tariff levels. With the formation of the Tariff Authority for Major Ports, these tariffs are being rationalised further on a continuing transparent and fair basis.

Financial Sector and Capital Markets

35. A great deal of progress has been made over the last few years in pursuing reforms in the financial sector and capital markets. I propose to continue reform in this sector.

Debt Market

36. The Indian equity market is the oldest in Asia. Since the creation of SEBI much greater transparency as well as automaticity has been introduced in the working of the equity market. The need now is to develop and deepen the debt market. This will be of great benefit to small investors and institutional investors alike. The infrastructure sector will be enabled to raise long term funds, particularly with the opening of the insurance sector.

37. In order to further develop a transparent and active debt market in general, and the Government securities market in particular, I propose to take the following measures:

* A Clearing Corporation will be set up under the active encouragement of the RBI, with State Bank of India as the chief promoter, and is expected to be in place by June 2001. It will also enable settlement of forex transactions.

* Trading of Government Securities, through order driven screen-based system will be implemented.

* An electronic Negotiated Dealing System will be set up by the RBI by June 2001 to facilitate transparent electronic bidding in auctions and dealings in Government securities on a real time basis.

* In order to ensure smooth and quick movement of funds, the Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) and Real Time Gross Settlement Systems (RTGS) are being put in place by the Reserve Bank of India within the next year.

* Clarifications are being issued by CBDT to promote the issuance of STRIPS, zero coupon bonds, deep discount bonds, and the like.

* The old Public Debt Act will be replaced by Government Securities Act.

* Comprehensive legislation will be introduced on securitisation. 38. I propose to set up a small group comprising the Reserve Bank of India, SEBI, the stock exchanges and Ministry of Finance to monitor and implement these developments so that the debt market becomes active next year.

Continued

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