Fearing loss of funds from the Centre for implementation of Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY) in the 12th Plan period (2012-17), the Odisha energy department has given strict instructions to the district collectors to submit detailed project reports (DPRs) by the end of this month.
“It is reiterated here in the 12th Plan that the DPRs shall be prepared and submitted for approval basing on actual field survey and updated schedule of rates to avoid any revision in cost estimates. Any upward variation in the cost on account of quantity variation shall have financial burden on the state government”, energy secretary P K Jena wrote to the respective district collectors.
As per the timelines stipulated by the Government of India, survey and preparation of DPRs for RGGVY implementation in the 12th Plan is to be completed by September 30. Then, the state level committee will make recommendations to the Centre by October 15.
Rural Electrification Corporation (REC), the nodal agency for RGGVY implementation will appraise the DPRs by October 30. While the monitoring committee of the Union power ministry is to approve these DPRs by November 15, contracts are expected to be awarded within 90 days from the date of sanction.
“Unless you submit the DPRs by the deadline given by the Government of India, possibly your district may lose the funds to be allotted under 12th Plan for which the state government will make the concerned district collector squarely responsible. As a last chance, I would like to remind you again to submit the DPRs latest by September 30”, the letter added.
The DPRs would cover sanction and implementation of new projects covering left out villages and habitations and providing free electricity connections to remaining BPL (below poverty line) households and providing access to electricity to rural households.
Under the 12th Plan, only those villages and habitations having population of 100 and above are eligible to be covered.
The guidelines issued by the Government of India state that under 12th Plan of RGGVY, a village is contemplated as a sum of habitations wherein the main village is considered as the main habitation of the village. The habitations already covered under RGGVY will not be eligible for funding under 12th Plan. However, for the left out BPL households in the already covered villages and habitations, capital subsidy at the rate of Rs 3000 per connection is proposed to be provided.
