Question : ELECTRIFICATION OF VILLAGES UNDER RGGVY

(a) whether the Government is aware that many villages and Below Poverty Line (BPL) population of the country including those in Assam are still to be covered under Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY);

(b) if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise and the reasons therefor;

(c) the targets set and achieved under RGGVY so far including the number of villages fully electrified, partially electrified and yet to be electrified thereunder and also the number of BPL families covered along with the reasons for non-achievement of the targets;

(d) the funds allocated/released/utilized for the purpose during Second Phase of Eleventh Plan as well as Twelfth Plan, State/ UT-wise; and

(e) the time bound programme chalked out/proposed to be chalked out by the Government to achieve the goal of providing electricity to all the villages and BPL population in the country?

THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR POWER, COAL AND NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY ( SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL )

(a) & (b) : Government of India had approved continuation of Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY) for XII Five Year Plan in September 2013 with the aim to cover the remaining un-electrified census villages and the habitations of the country having population 100 and above. Under the scheme, 273 projects were sanctioned in the financial year 2013-14, covering electrification of 12,468 un-electrified villages, intensive electrification of 2.31 lakh electrified villages and release of free electricity connections to 1.33 crore BPL households including 16 projects of Assam. The details of projects sanctioned under XII Plan are at Annex-I.

(c) : Under RGGVY, 648 projects were sanctioned during X & XI Plan, covering electrification of 1,12,287 un-electrified villages, intensive electrification of 3,71,646 electrified villages and release of free electricity connection to 2.75 crore BPL households in the country. Cumulatively, as on 30.10.2014, electrification works in 1,08,703 un-electrified villages and intensive electrification of 3,12,452 electrified villages have been completed and free electricity connection to 2.20 crore BPL households have been released under the scheme. Details are at Annex-II. However, the progress of RGGVY has been affected in some of the States due to the following reasons:

(i) Delay in forest clearance for the land proposals required for execution of the Projects in some States.

(ii) Delays in land acquisition for 33/11 KV sub-stations by States.

(iii) Limited number of good agencies available for execution of turnkey contracts.

(iv) Delay in issuance of road permit and way bills in some States.

(v) Very poor upstream rural electricity infrastructure in some States.

(vi) Delay in finalization of BPL lists by some States.

(vii)Delay in taking decision to waive state and local taxes on line materials by some States.

(viii) Difficult terrain in some States.

(ix) Law & order problem including Maoist Violence in some of the States.

(d) : Under Phase-II of RGGVY, 72 projects were sanctioned with a total project cost of Rs. 9081.88 crore. Cumulatively as on 31.10.2014, an amount of Rs. 2913.94 crore including capital subsidy of Rs. 2626.33 crore, has been released under Phase-II.

Further, 273 projects have been sanctioned under RGGVY in XII Plan with a project cost of Rs. 23578.29 crore. State-wise details of project cost and funds released under RGGVY including capital subsidy, are at Annex-III.

(e) : The Government has launched Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY) which envisages feeder separation, strengthening of sub-transmission and distribution system including metering of distribution transformers/feeders/consumers and rural electrification with scheme cost of Rs.43033 crore during the entire implementation period.