Shortly after being introduced in the Rajya Sabha on December 8th, the Energy Conservation (Amendment) Bill 2022 faced criticism by the opposition members in the Rajya Sabha.Targeting the loopholes in the Bill , the critics alleged that the legislation did not go through a consultation by the standing committee and encroached the jurisdiction of the Environment Ministry.
The Amendment was introduced in the Rajya Sabha by the Power Minister. It was passed by the lower house of the Parliament in the Monsoon session this year. The revamped legislation seeks to promote the use of fossil fuels including ethanol, green hydrogen and biomass. It also seeks to promote the development of a carbon market to battle climate change. Besides this it would also enable the country to meet its international commitments on climate change.
The Bill also proposes an “energy conservation and sustainable building code” for large buildings (which are connected to at least 100 kilowatt of power) including commercial and residential ones, which necessitates that renewable energy sources be used in such buildings as well. The Bill also proposes to increase members in the Governing Council of Bureau of Energy Efficiency, a statutory body constituted under the Ministry of Power.
According to P Wilson (DMK), the bill majorly focued on the environmental aspects which fall under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Environment, Forest an Climate Change. Enaction of the bill according to him will usurp the power of the above said departments.
AAP member Sandeep Kumar Patel, targetted the carbon credit trading section of the Amendment. The Manoj Kumar Jha (RJD) claimed that there was a domain conflict in the newly drafted Bill. He also pressed on the uncertainties on the carbon credit regulationswhich as per the Bill will be under the jurisdiction of the Power Ministry.
“The Bill was yet another example of the Centre taking away rights of the states- slammed CPI(M) MP V. Sivadasan. Under the amendment, only five states have the authority to register their opinion in the Bureau of Energy Efficiency, which bereaved majority of the states from the right of opinion.
Others including Binoy Viswam of the CPI urged the government to refer the bill to a parliamentary panel for necessary corrections.
On the contrary the Bill was supported by Vaibhav Chaturvedi, Fellow, the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW)– who stated the Bill gives “legislative teeth to India’s domestic carbon credits trading market.” Carbon pricing as an instrument will be critical for India to achieve its net-zero target and this has been a bold and ambitious move by the Government of India,” he said.
Other members Birendra Prasad (AGP), Ram Chander jangra(BJP) and Maharaja Sanajaoba also supported the bill.
