State government firms up plans to electrify 340 un-electrified villages by first half of 2018, cover all households by March 2019
By Our Staff Reporter
Guwahati, Jan 2: The State government is all set to spread light literally in rural areas in the New Year by intensifying electrification drive. As per plan, all the remaining 340 un-electrified villages in the State will be electrified by first half of 2018 and subsequently all households will be provided with power connection by March 2019.
There were altogether 2,892 villages in Assam without electricity as on 1st April, 2015. Of these, 942 villages were electrified under the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yoja (DDUGJY) in 2015-16. In 2016-17, further 1,218 villages were provided with electricity. And in 2017-18 (as on 30th November last year), 392 more villages were electrified. But there are still 340 un-electrified villages. Now, Dispur has firmed up plans to cover these remaining villages by the first part of 2018.
As per the Government of India’s earlier norm, any village with at least 10% of its households having electricity connection was considered electrified. However, Prime Minister rendra Modi has amended that rule and envisioned to provide power connection to every household in the country by March 2019 under Saubhagya scheme. He has issued directives to all the States in this regard.
Now, Dispur is also set to work under Saubhagya scheme as well. Chief Minister Sarbanda Sonowal is expected to formally launch the Central scheme in the State in mid-January. Meanwhile, speaking to The Sentinel, State Power Minister Pallab Lochan Das said 38 lakh households in the State had access to power, while an estimated 20 lakh households were still without electricity connection. He said the Power department had already drawn up plans to electrify all the remaining un-electrified villages.
“Now that the Prime Minister too has set a target, the department will work towards meeting his objective as well of power for all by March 2019,” he explained.
Das said all below poverty line (BPL) families will be provided free power connection, while those above poverty line (APL) will be provided free connection as well, but the cost of installation will be later realised in instalments from their monthly electricity bills.
While 79,004 BPL families were provided free power connection in 2014-15, the number stood at 22,077 in 2015-16.
On the other hand, the Centre had released Rs 114.62 crore to Assam under DDUGJY in 2014-15, Rs 338.01 crore in 2015-16 and Rs 598.34 crore in 2016-17.