New Delhi, July 14 (IANS) India should decentralise generation and distribution of power by allowing big commercial and residential complexes to build captive power plants, said a government official here Monday. “Recent record hike in global oil and gas prices has brought India’s energy crisis into sharp focus. To address the crisis, it’s high time decentralisation of generation and distribution network be given top priority,” said Power Secretary Anil Razdan.

He was speaking at the valedictory session of a two-day seminar on “Energising Urban India”, organised by the Consulting Engineers Association of India.

Razdan said the government planned to make it mandatory for large commercial and residential complexes that have more than 25 MW demand to have their own captive power generation plants. “They should at least meet 15-20 percent of power requirements from solar energy,” he said.

Razdan added that the power ministry had written to the finance ministry to give tax concessions to manufacturers of energy efficient equipments and fuel-efficient vehicles.