(a) whether the Union Government has taken concrete steps to speed up
the electrification work under Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana
(RGGVY) in the backward/tribal areas of the North Eastern Region, particularly
the Bodoland Territorial areas and also to set up new power plants; and
(b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?
THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF POWER
( SHRI JYOTIRADITYA M. SCINDIA )
(a) & (b) : The following steps have been taken by the Government of India
for effective implementation of the RGGVY in the country including backward
tribal areas of the North Eastern region :
(i) Government of India has set up an inter-Ministerial Monitoring
Committee under chairmanship of Secretary (Power) which
periodically meets to sanction projects and review progress of
implementation.
(ii) States have been advised to set up district committees to monitor the
progress of rural electrification works. District committees have been
set up in all the states to monitor the progress of rural electrification
works.
(iii) States have also been advised to associate elected representatives
including the Members of Parliament in the District Committee.
(iv) The States have also been requested by MOP to hold monthly meeting
under the Chairmanship of Chief Secretary to resolve the bottlenecks
in implementation of RGGVY.
(v) Ministry of Power, Government of India as well as Rural Electrification
Corporation (REC), the nodal agency for RGGVY, conduct frequent
review meetings with all the stakeholders, the concerned State
Governments, State Power Utilities and implementing agencies for
expeditious implementation of the scheme as per the agreed
schedules.
(vi) For speedier and effective implementation of projects, execution of
project has been taken on turnkey basis.
(vii) To ensure qualitative execution of rural electrification works, a three
tier quality control mechanism has been enforced under RGGVY.
(viii) Wherever there is delay in forest clearance/Railway clearances etc.
requiring inter-ministerial interventions, the matters are taken up
with concerned Ministry/Railway Board at different levels to expedite
the issue of necessary clearances.
As regarding the steps taken by the Government to set up new
power plants including NE region, capacity addition of 88,537 MW, has been
planned from conventional sources for the 12th Five Year Plan on all-India basis.
With this level of capacity addition, the demand for power on All India basis is
likely to be met by the terminal year of 12th Plan (2016-17). This capacity
addition programme of 88,537 MW during 12th Plan includes 3,529.6 MW
capacity addition in North-Eastern Region.
Under Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY), 82
projects were sanctioned in North Eastern States including backward tribal
areas of the Bodoland Territorial area covering electrification of 13,595 un/de-
electrified villages, intensive electrification of 22,147 partially electrified
villages and release of free electricity connections to 16,24,668 BPL
households. The sanctioned projects in North Eastern States cover all the
districts including backward tribal areas and also Bodoland Territorial areas.
Cumulatively, as on 31.03.2013, the electrification works in 12,339 UE villages,
intensive electrification of 18,535 PE villages have been completed and free
electricity connections to 12,13,673 BPL households have been released under
the scheme. The State-wise details is at Annex.