"There has been a slow progress in rural electrification schemes in Orissa due to the non-availability of major materials like PSC poles. The PSC poles manufacturing facilities in the state are mostly confined to the coastal regions." Suresh Chandra Mohapatra, state energy secretary said.
He said, the Central PSUs like National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL) and National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) responsible for implementation of RGGVY in various districts of the state need to forge tie-ups with implementing contractors for setting up PSC poles manufacturing plants or set up captive facilities for poles manufacturing. They can also encourage experienced or new entrepreneurs for manufacturing poles.
"We would also request Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporatiion (IDCO) to offer land on short-term lease to encourage small entrepreneurs to set up manufacturing facilities for PSC poles in the state", he added.
At present, IDCO offers land to pole manufacturers in the state on long-term lease at a cost of Rs 3 lakh per acre in developed areas and the provision to offer land on long-term lease may require an amendment to the Orissa Industrial Infrastructure Act of 1980 under which IDCO was established in 1981.
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Mohapatra was speaking at a workshop on major materials required for implementation of RGGVY and Biju Gram Jyoti Yojana schemes in the state, organized by the Utkal Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
As per tentative figures, about 20 lakh PSC poles are required for implementation of RGGVY in all the 30 districts of the state and another 55,000 poles are needed for the Biju Gram Jyoti Yojana (BGJY), the rural electrification scheme of the state government.
Under the RGGVY, the Rural Electrification Corporation (REC) has released the first tranche of Rs 239.79 crore to NTPC Electric Supply Company, NHPC and PGCIL for implementation of rural electrification projects in seven districts of the state namely, Angul, Nayagarh, Ganjam, Gajapati, Balasore, Jajpur and Puri.
NTPC Electric Supply Company, NHPC and PGCIL have awarded contracts for execution of rural electrification work in all these districts and work has started in Angul, Nayagarh, Ganjam and Gajapati.
The Orissa government has already submitted the Detailed Project Reports for 30 districts to REC and the total outlay for the state for implementation of RGGGVY is Rs 3,582.19 crore.
Notice inviting tender has been published and bids have been opened for 16 districts and retendering has been done for Bhadrak district.
In all, the RGGVY covers 17,895 unelectrified/de-electrified villages, 40,706 un-electrified habitations and 31,85,863 BPL households.
Under the BGJY, 4,195 villages and habitations were identified for electrification in 2007-08 and Rs 157 crore was placed with the collectors of all the 30 districts of the state.
In 2008-09, 4,000-5,000 habitations and villages are targeted to be electrified and Rs 100.25 crore has already been placed. The BGJY being taken up for villages and habitations with a population less than 100, covers 314 blocks in Orissa and work is in progress in 3,036 habitations in 238 blocks.