(a) whether the Government has any proposal for electrification of remote areas through non-conventional energy sources;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether any proposals have been received from certain States particularly West Bengal for electrification of the remote areas;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the action taken by the Union Government thereon?
MINISTER OF STATE OF THE MINISTRY OF NON-CONVENTIONAL ENERGY SOURCES (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SHRI VILAS MUTTEMWAR)
(a) , (b) , (c), (d)& (e): A statement is laid on the table of the house.
STATEMENT
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a), (b), (c), (d)& (e) of LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.186, PERTAINING TO RURAL ELECTRIFICATION TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, THE 5th AUGUST, 2005
(a) & (b): Under the Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana of the Government, all the unelectrified villages in the country will be taken up for electrification. It has been estimated that out of 1,25,000 unelectrified villages, around 25,000 remote villages are those where grid connectivity may not be feasible or cost effective. Such villages will be electrified with the help of non-conventional energy sources. The Ministry provides 90% of the cost of electrification as Central Financial Assistance for such villages.
(c), (d) & (e): 1944 remote villages have so far been electrified with non-conventional energy sources and implementation work is ongoing in another 1120 villages. Out of an estimated 1435 remote unelectrified villages in West Bengal, 987 have already been electrified through non-conventional energy sources and in 186 villages, projects are under implementation. New proposals for electrification of around 3000 villages in 18 states, including 236 in West Bengal, have been received. Further action on these will be taken as per the provisions of Ministry`s Programme.