Government is considering providing three-phase electricity connection to villages under the Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana(RGGYY) instead of single phase now, the Rajya Sabha was informed today.
Power Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said during Question Hour that there have been reports of transformers burning or tripping possibly due to overdrawing of power from the single phase connections.
"We are thinking of giving three-phase connections."
The RGGVY scheme for rural electrification is implemented through state governments and there have been instances of delay in awarding of contracts at the state level, he added.
Shinde said Rs 28,000 crore has been allocated for rural electrification during the current 11th Five year Plan of which Rs 7,000 crore is for the current year.
As of now, 61,990 villages have been electrified. Under RGGVY, 2.34 crore connections to BPL households are to be given. Of these 6.26 lakh have already been given, he detailed.
Also Read
"There is no state-wise allocation of funds under RGGVY. Funds are disbursed based on status of implementation of projects," Shinde added.
Villages are selected for electrification under the RGGVY only after the concerned state government promises 6-8 hours of uninterrupted power supply to them, he explained.