Question : Supply of Electricity to All Households

(a) whether the Union Government has recently admitted that their responsibility is to connect households and villages to the power grid across the country and not taking guarantee to provide electricity to them;

(b) if so, the facts and details in this regard;

(c) whether there are several discrepancies between the actual and on paper status of electrification across the country;

(d) if so, the facts and details in this regard;

(e) whether the Union Government proposes to ensure access to electricity in all the households and villages with consistent supply; and

(f) if so, the details in this regard?

THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR POWER AND
NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY

( SHRI R. K. SINGH )

(a) & (b) : Electricity is in the Concurrent list in the Constitution. Even after 68 years of Independence there were thousands of villages where electricity had not reached and therefore, Government of India decided that all the villages which had still not been connected with electricity be electrified in 1000 days, beginning August 15, 2015. Funds were provided by the Government of India as grant to the tune of sixty per cent (85 percent for the special category States). In addition to the grant, loan of 30% (10% for the special category states) was also provided by Rural Electrification Corporation (REC), Power Finance Corporation (PFC) or other Financial Institutions(FIs)/Banks. The work was done
through the States. The States Government provided the list of un-electrified villages and reported their electrification when they were electrified. Apart from funds, Government of India also provided other additional assistance required, for example provision of helicopters for heli lifting equipment to the difficult areas in Jammu and Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh, assistance through REC for procurement of equipment etc.

Government of India also decided that benefit of electrification should not be limited to villages but access to electricity must be provided to all households, and launched a scheme “ Saubhagya” for this purpose. Under this scheme, Government of India gives funds to the States to the extent of 60% (85% for special category States) as grant; and additional grant of 15% (5% for special category State) with the objective of connecting every household in a time bound manner. The target date is 31st March, 2019 as per the scheme, but Government are determined to complete the work by December, 2018. The States have reported 3.60 crore households as un-electrified on 11th October, 2017 when the scheme was launched. As and when the houses get electrified, the State send their progress report and also upload the data on the designated portal.

(c) & (d) : All the un-electrified census village have been electrified on 28.04.2018 ahead of the deadline. All remaining un-electrified households are targeted for electrification by 31st March, 2019. The data of households and progress are updated by the States/DISCOMs in the portal for information of all the stakeholders. If and when any discrepancy is reported, concerned States have it examined and get it rectified, where necessary.

(e) to (f) : Government of India has taken a joint initiative with all the States/UTs for providing 24x7 power to all households, industrial & commercial consumers and adequate supply of power to agriculture consumers as per State policy. All the State Governments and Union Territories have signed the ‘24x7 Power For All’ document to provide electricity to all from 1st April, 2019. Government of India supplements the efforts of the States through its schemes including Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY), Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS) and Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana- Saubhagya.

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