UP govt working to ensure power supply in rural areas:Akhilesh

Uttar Pradesh has been taking several initiatives to ensure reliable power supply in rural areas, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav today said, noting that his state is the first to come up with a Mini-grid Policy.
"Uttar Pradesh has been taking several initiatives and steps to make sure that we provide reliable electricity in rural areas and I am proud that UP is the first state to come up with a Mini-grid Policy," the CM said.
He was speaking at the first UP Mini-Grid Conclave organised by Rockefeller Foundation here.
"UP government plans to continue its efforts in providing electricity in rural areas in the state to improve the quality of lives and uplift the economy...I welcome the Rockefeller Foundation's Smart Power for Rural Development Initiative to bring electricity to rural areas of Uttar Pradesh," he said.

The Rockefeller Foundation hosted this meeting as part of its Smart Power for Rural Development (SPRD) initiative that aims to deliver electricity and catalyse economic development among under served rural populations in 1,000 villages in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar by 2018.
Since the SPRD launch in April 2015, the initiative has 81 operational plants - 58 of which are in Hardoi, Kushinagar, Pratapgarh, Rai Bareli, Shravasthi, Balrampur and Sitapur districts.
Associate Vice President and Managing Director, Asia, The Rockefeller Foundation, Ashvin Dayal said: "We expect to see steady growth in the number of operating plants in Uttar Pradesh in 2016."

The UP Mini-Grid Conclave comes against the backdrop of the announcement of the UP Mini-grid Policy by the state government. The conclave was designed to showcase the potential of renewable mini-grid sector to drive inclusive economic development in the state.