Prior approval for power supply equipment imports from China mandatory: Govt

The power ministry has made prior permission mandatory to import electricity equipment – used in the supply network – from prior reference countries like China and Pakistan.

The decision was taken by the ministry amid a stand-off with China at the border.

For India, China and Pakistan are prior reference countries with whom it shares a land border.

Earlier in the day, Power Minister R K Singh told his state counterparts in a virtual conference that India will not give permission for import of power equipment from prior reference countries.

The recent order of the ministry is a step in that direction to discourage imports from reference countries, mainly China.