The Indian government on Wednesday said it would bring out a national power policy within the next six months aimed at making power available to all and sought greater private sector investment in rural energy sector.

Speaking at a seminar on electricity bill in New Delhi, power secretary R V Shahi said government would also put forth national tariff policy and another policy on rural energy within the next few months.

Tariff policy would address issues relating to green energy, peaking power and project specific tariffs while power policy would take care of various issues including optimum utilisation of natural resources.

On the issue of providing open access in transmission, Shahi said the same would be introduced within the next three and half years even though it meant circumscribing of power of various regulators.

However, the extent of the introduction would be left to the regulator.

Shahi said the new policy would also prescribe limits on power projects requiring mandatory clearance from Central Electricity Authority.

Under the new law, licences for distribution could not be refused and government would soon notify criteria for award of the same.

The secretary was critical of the attitude adopted by private players towards the sector.