Union Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, MSME Nitin Gadkari has stressed on the need of power audit, especially for those who are not following standards of energy efficiency norms.

Mr Gadkari was addressing the National Conclave to scale up energy efficiency in MSME sector in New Delhi today. He said, reducing the transportation cost is the top priority of the government.

Mr Gadkari said, the transportation cost in China is 8 to 10 per cent, in Europe 12 per cent but in India it is between 16 and 18 per cent.

The Minister said, government is developing waterways to reduce transportation costs. He said that the government is also working to replace the conventional fuel used in the waterways with LNG, methanol, CNGs, electric and solar power.

Speaking on the occasion, Power and New Renewable Energy Minister R K Singh said that upcoming new power tariff policy recommends cross-subsidy is phased out by 20 per cent per year. He said that New Power tariff policy is waiting for cabinet approval.

It recommends subsidies to be provided through DBT and allow users to choose their own power company.