New Delhi Aug 8 (IANS) State-run power generator NTPC will not acquire stressed assets but is open to operating projects owned by others as a business proposition Power Minister Piyush Goyal said on Tuesday.
"NTPC is not taking over any stressed assets. If the banks take over any stressed assets and they run a due process everybody will be free to participate in that including the PSU (public sector undertaking) companies " Goyal told reporters here at an event on the Goods and Services Tax (GST) organised by the FICCI Ladies Organisation (FLO).
Responding to a question on NTPC operating stressed assets taken over by banks the minister said: "That s a suport they provide to anybody in the public or private sector.
If any body wants to approach NTPC and is willing to pay NTPC it s a service that they provide and anybody can avail it. It s a revenue m del for NTPC."
In this connection he said that the government s recent announcement on stake divestment in PSUs through the Bharat 22 exchange traded fund (ETF) is a "win-win" proposition for the generating giant.
"Shareholding of government in NTPC has been moved to exchange-traded fund Bharat-22. It is a wonderful move. It will help the government garner resources while keeping the public sector character of company intact. It is a win-win situation."
He also said the world is moving towards electric vehicles and the government is working on a road map to take India towards all electric cars.
"Only electric car by 2030...existing cars may take a little longer to replace. But the government is working on a framework to see what we can do on promoting electric vehicle. Niti Aayog is currently tasked with preparing futuristic vision for electric vehicles " Goyal said.
He also said that although hybrid cars had reduced fuel consumption a little bit India will promote electric vehicles because it is the future.
"It (hybrid cars) reduced fuel consumption a little bit but the future is all electric cars. I had also recommended to the finance minister that it is not advisable for an intermediate technology which reduces the fuel consumption by a little bit but otherwise that is not the future the future is all electric cars " he said.
"The world is moving towards electric vehicles and the country would promote electric vehicles " he added.
--IANS
bc/vm
