Lumping ministries
Everything should be kept as simple as possible, quipped Einstein, but not any simpler. Back in the day, when the megaministries were being split up to make them more manageable (e.g., communication yielding communications and ports and shipping) the idea was to create nimble, efficient and focused outfits. But the process had not stopped there. Existing ministries were also unnecessarily split up to accommodate portfolios for coalition partners – the ministry of postal services to name one.
It is at a time like this that a move for consolidation of two ministries, large ones at that, seemed unlikely. But that is just what is set to happen. The government plans to lump together the ministry of petroleum and natural resources with the ministry of water and power. The legalities are being thrashed out and the case is to be sent to the law ministry.
The move has long been advocated by international donor agencies. On the face of it, it doesn’t seem too bad an idea. With the centrality of thermal energy in our power profile, the two ministries are inextricably linked. And with the slow dance of circular debt between the government, the IPPs, the oil companies and the rest, a single ministry would perhaps streamline things. At the moment, as far as the government is concerned, the left hand doesn’t know what the right hand is doing, as was evidenced recently when, at a high-level meeting, the officials from the different departments weren’t on the same page as to what the size of the circular debt was.
There are going to be some complications as well. Since the water component of the water and power ministry can’t well be in this ministry, there is talk of creating a separate ministry for irrigation matters. If that does happen, hydel power is going to be spread out across two ministries the way thermal power is now. We cannot afford any deficit in coordination then. Much thought should be put into this process and all eventualities should be mapped out.
At the end of the day, the move ostensibly seems to have been prompted by a measure of proactive thinking. It is hoped it helps in easing our terrible power crisis.