Page 50 - 15MAR2019E

India set to achieve 100%

household electrification

by March end: Minister

Around 30,000 families are reportedly being provided with maining around four lakh households
could be energised by the end of March
electricity connection every day. Therefore, the remaining 2019. Representational Image. Reuters.
around four lakh households could be energised by the Achieving 100 percent of household
March 31, reports tehelka bureau electrification was one of the aims of
the present government. However, it
could not meet the self-imposed dead-
ll households in the coun- ciency and energy efficiency. However, line of December 2018 for the scheme.
try are likely to be electri- the hours of power supplied to the agri- At a meeting of state power minis-
fied by March 31, 2019. If culture sector will be as per the state’s ters, chaired by Union Power Minister
the claim of Union Min- policies so as to reduce water wastage R K Singh in Shimla in July 2018, it was
A ister of State, R.K.Singh is and prevent over-exploitation of our al- resolved to complete the task of ener-
to be believed “Country is on the path ready stressed groundwater resources. gizing all households by 31 December
to achieving 100 per cent household Addressing the conference, Ajay Bhalla, 2018, against the original deadline of 31
electrification by 31 March 2019 and the Secretary, Power invited the States/UTs March 2019 provided under the Saub-
next goal is the 24x7 power supply for to share their views and work together hagya scheme. It was again put off and
all households”. RK Singh Union Min- to find solutions to the challenges faced the new deadline is March 31, 2019.
ister of State (IC) for Power and New & by the Power Sector. Elaborating about the reason for left
Renewable Energy has complimented The Ministers and Secretaries of out unelectrified households, the min-
States for electrifying 2.5 crore house- the States and Union territories and ister said that the work was affected in
holds under Saubhagya in a record time senior officials of the power & renew- Chhattisgarh due to left-wing extrem-
of 17 months. able energy sectors and Public Sector ism or Naxal issues because they do
This information came to light while Undertakings are attending the Con- not allow electricity supply which can
Singh was addressing the inaugural ference under them. In the next two connect people in those areas to the
session of the Conference of Power days, the delegates will discuss issues outside world. He further said that the
and Renewable Energy Ministers of like- 24x7 Power For All, present situa- left out households in Rajasthan are at
States and UTs at Gurugram on Feb- tion analysis of thermal power, Intra- far off places but efforts are on to com-
ruary 27. The two-day Conference has state and Inter-state transmission sta- plete the task by March 31, 2019. On the
been called to review the implementa- tus, promoting energy efficiency and issue of payment security mechanism
tion of various ongoing Schemes/ Pro- renewables for a less carbon-intensive for private sector power generators as
grammes and deliberate on a host of economy. New reforms such as UDAY-II suggested by the high-level committee
issues pertaining to Power and Renew- — use of technology, improving meter- on stressed power assets, the minister
able Energy sectors. ing/billing/collection and solar irriga- said that the recommendations are un-
Power Minister also felicitated State tion will also be discussed during the der consideration and the government
Power Departments and DISCOMs for conference. would discuss it with the RBI before
their achievements under Saubhagya. India is all set to achieve 100 percent going ahead.
Laying the roadmap for achieving 24x7 household electrification under the Talking about the infusion of renew-
power for all, Singh said that this will 16,320 crore Saubhagya scheme. The able energy, he said that clean energy
be done by strengthening the distribu- Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar share would increase in future but the
tion network, improving the DISCOMs Yojana (Saubhagya) was launched in coal-based power would stay for some
health, reducing the transmission & September 2017. Around 30,000 fami- time because demand would further
distribution losses, using technology lies are being provided with electricity increase with the addition of 2.5 crore
to improve billing and collection effi- connection every day. Therefore, the re- new subscribers and economic devel-

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