<span style="color: #222222;">Parliament has passed the &nbsp;Energy Conservation (Amendment) Bill, 2022 with Rajya Sabha approving it today. Lok Sabha has already passed the Bill. The &nbsp;Bill seeks to amend the Energy Conservation Act, of 2001. It promotes energy efficiency and conservation. The Bill empowers the Centre to specify a carbon credit trading scheme. The legislation also stipulates that designated consumers may be required to meet a proportion of their energy needs from non-fossil sources. The Energy Conservation Code for buildings will apply to office and residential buildings with a connected load of 100 kilowatt or above.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">&nbsp;<br />'' Replying to a debate on the Bill in the &nbsp;House, Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Raj Kumar Singh said that it is a matter of pride for all the citizens, the way India has moved on energy transition and enhanced the renewable energy capacity. He said, &nbsp;the Energy Ministers of various countries who have visited India are impressed with the progress in renewable the energy sector.&nbsp; He said, &nbsp;no developed country has made as much progress as India &nbsp;in energy transition and climate action.&nbsp; Mr. Singh informed the House that during 2015 at COP-21, as part of its Nationally determined contributions, NDCs, India had committed to achieving 40 per cent of its installed electricity capacity from non-fossil energy sources by 2030. He said, the country has achieved this target in November 2021, nine years ahead of the set target. &nbsp;<br />'' <br />'' Participating in the discussion, P Wilson of DMK has praised the government for taking efforts for reducing carbon emissions and protecting the environment. However, he said, certain provisions of the Bill need reconsideration.&nbsp; Sandeep Kumar Pathak of AAP termed this Bill a futuristic step highlighting the need to take steps to create necessary infrastructure and attract investment in the renewal energy sector. Manoj Kumar Jha of RJD said, the Bill is silent on the calculation of emissions. Dr. V Sivadasan of CPI (M) said the Centre must give the right to state for managing energy conservation methods and procedures. Shaktisinh Gohil of Congress said, the bill is silent on the regulatory mechanism of carbon trading. Ram Chander Jangra of BJP said this is an important bill as the government has taken a series of measures for the conservation of energy including the introduction of LED bulbs. Abdul Wahab of IUML urged the government to make it consumer-friendly.<br />'' <br />''Muzibulla Khan of BJD, S Niranjan Reddy of YSR Congress, Vaiko of MDMK, Dr. Fauzia Khan of NCP, Priyanka Chaturvedi of Shiv Sena, Kanakamedala Ravindra Kumar of TDP, M Thambidurai of AIADMK, Mahua Maji of JVM and other members also participated in the discussion.</span><br />
News On AIR | December 12, 2022 8:16 PM
Parliament passes Energy Conservation (Amendment) Bill, 2022