They were speaking at the inaugural function of the 10th national power systems conference at general education auditorium here on Wednesday. Organised by Electrical Engineering Department, MSU and GEB, the three-day meet aims to provide a common platform to academicians as well as GEB and industry representatives to discuss issues pertaining to the power sector. Nearly 100 technical papers will be presented in 26 sessions.

Responding to his felicitation, Amin said: ``Besides research, there is a need to modify policy decisions in the power sector. Nothing comes by passing benefit from one group to another''.

Only Indians can take the country to greater heights and not World Bank, he said, making a remark on younger generation which goes abroad after ``getting disappointed in India. I have nothing against them but they should not forget the country''.

Responding to the honour conferred on him, Shah called for the need to change drastically the tarrif policies. ``Supplying almost free electricity to agricultural sector was like hammering the Board'', he observed, suggesting that sooner they could get out of it, it was the better. He felt that one of the major drawbacks in the power generation was shortage of finance.

In his key-note address, Board member N R Waghmare said persons responsible for planning the power system should be highly qualified and experienced technocrats and not `bookish' experts.

He appreciated that funds were now being allocated for transmission and distribution of power as compared to the earlier practice of allocating more to the generation sector. In 1980, the Rajadhyaksha Committee had observed that equal funds should be allocated in transmission and distribution sector.

Waghmare said that as per the Fourth National Power Plan, there would be an additional requirement of over 1,50,000 MW during 1997-2012 AD. This, he said, meant adding about 10,000 MW every year on an average as against 3,400 MW achieved during the Eighth Plan. An estimated Rs 1,00,000 crore will be required for generation, transmission and distribution, he added.

He suggested that qualified and experienced technocrats, preferably with financial background and indepth knowledge of the subject, should be entrusted with the job of power planning.

Waghmare also stressed that proper and careful planning required indepth knowledge about time-frame requirements, length and voltage of transmission and distribution lines, funding pattern, protection of installed systems and availability of proper manpower. He said the per capita power consumption, both commercial and non-commercial, in India rose by 21 per cent during two decades since 1971 as against some 14 per cent of world energy consumption in the same period. After 1970, the demand exceeded the supply, he said, adding the shortage was about 11.5 per cent.

The conference was inaugurated by MSU vice-chancellor Dr Anil Kane and pro vice-chancellor Dipak Kumar De released a souvenir to mark the occasion. Board member (technical) K K Vaghela also spoke.