Question : RAJIV GANDHI GRAMEEN VIDYUTIKARAN YOJANA



(a) whether Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY) under the 11th Five Year Plan covering the North Eastern States are running behind their respective scheduled time of completion;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;

(c) the status of utilization of funds sanctioned for the projects and the cost escalation as a result of the backlog thereof; and

(d) the concrete measures taken by the Government to expedite completion of these projects?

Answer given by the minister


THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF POWER ( SHRI JYOTIRADITYA M. SCINDIA )

(a) to (c) : Under Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY), 66 projects were sanctioned in 11th Plan in North Eastern States for electrification of 11,970 un/de-electrified villages (UEV), intensive electrification of 18,328 partially electrified villages (PEV) and release of free electricity connections to 13,88,104 BPL households with project cost of Rs.4816.17 crore. Cumulatively, in North Eastern States, as on 31.03.2013, the electrification works in 10,757 UE villages, intensive electrification of 15,081 PE villages have been completed and free electricity connections to 10,21,326 BPL households have been released. An amount of Rs.4084.11 crore has been released. The details of coverage, achievement and fund released, North Eastern (NE) state-wise, is at Annex. As per RGGVY guidelines unit rates are not allowed to vary during the currency of contract.

The progress in NE Region has been affected due to extremely difficult terrain, remoteness and inaccessibility of villages, forest clearance issues, litigation, Right of Way (ROW) issues, flood, problem in transportation of material and, insurgency in few States.

(d) :In order to speed up the electrification works under RGGVY in North Eastern Region, regular review meetings are being conducted. Rural Electrification Corporation (REC) Ltd, the nodal agency for RGGVY, had conducted State specific review meeting in May, 2012 and July, 2012. The contracts of non-performing agencies have been terminated in Arunachal Pradesh. Use of steel poles for ease of transportation had also been allowed as a special case for Arunachal Pradesh.