Rs 4,000 cr to be spent for rural electrification in State
Under the Biju Gramya Jyoti (BGJ) and the Rajiv Gandhi Gramin Vidyutkaran Yojna (RGGVY), a sum of Rs 4,000 crore would be spent in the electrification of about 60,000 villages in the State. About 32 lakh people of the inaccessible rural areas would be benefited under these schemes, according to State Energy Minister Surjya Narayan Patro, in a meeting here that was held in presence of ten district collectors, Revenue Divisional Commisoner MS Padhee, including officials of Wesco and other electric companies of the northern revenue division. Also the BPL families across the State would get electricity connections at free of coast under these schemes. NTPC, Power Grid and NHPC have been entrusted to complete the work within 18 months. In Sambalpur district, Bajaj Electricals would do the work. The agencies that failed to complete the work within the time limit would be awarded with heavy fine, according to State Energy Secretary Suresh Chandra Mahapatra. Answering a question on low voltage in rural areas, Mahapatra said that up-gradation of transformers across the State would be completed soon. While seeking villagers' cooperation to curb electricity-conductor theft, Padhi said that this is a unique project in the State aiming at providing electricity to every family.
