Power ministry upset over tardy rural plans

The power ministry has expressed concern over the Rajiv Gandhi Rural Electrification Scheme in various states, including West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh.

In a review meeting, chaired by Power Secretary RV Shahi, of the central public sector companies, the state electricity boards and the power distribution companies, it was expressed that the franchisee programme in the scheme was yet to begin in most of the states.

"Supply of material is not happening as per schedule and that is why delays are occurring in electrification of villages in some states," Shahi remarked in the review.

He also expressed concern over the poor performance in West Bengal. It was pointed out that only seven out of the 259 villages that were supposed to receive electricity under the scheme in January were electrified.

There have been delays in Uttar Pradesh as well due to problems with the contractor.

In the case of Uttaranchal, the target was to provide power to 350 villages during 2005-06. However, the Regional Electricity Commission has set a target of only 230 villages for the same period.

Four projects of covering 437 villages have been sanctioned but the Uttaranchal Power Corporation Ltd has proposed that more projects be sanctioned to meet the target.

The target for 2005-06 under the scheme is to provide electricty to 60 lakh households, of which, 17.88 lakh are below the poverty line.

However, the power ministry targets only 10,846 villages for the corresponding period as tendering and awarding of contracts has to be carried out before the implementation.

The scheme is being implemented through the Rural Electrification Corporation where the Centre provides 90 per cent of the capital cost. The scheme, launched in April 2005, aims to provide electricity to 7.8 crore rural households in five years.