Question : ELECTRIFICATION OF VILLAGES

(a) whether National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC) has undertaken electrification work of villages and provided free electricity connections to Below Poverty Line (BPL) people in remote villages in various States in the country;

(b) if so, the details of the villages electrified and BPL connections provided during the last three years and the current year, State-wise;

(c) whether it is proposed to expand the scheme in the coming years;

(d) if so, the details thereof; and

(e) if not, the reasons therefor?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF POWER ( SHRI K.C. VENUGOPAL )

(a) & (b) : Under Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY), 5 State Governments have entrusted rural electrification works of some of the districts to National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC). The details of the villages electrified and BPL connections provided by NTPC in these States during the last three years and the current year is at Annex.

(c) to (e) : RGGVY scheme, at present, covers villages and habitations with population more than 100. There is no proposal for further expansion.