THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF POWER
(SHRI JYOTIRADITYA M. SCINDIA)
(a) & (b) : The Government of India launched Rajiv Gandhi Grameen
Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY), a flagship scheme, with an objective to provide
access to electricity to rural households by creating rural electricity
infrastructure and also to provide free electricity single point connection to
Below Poverty Line (BPL) households. Under the scheme, Government of India
provides 90% of the project cost as capital subsidy for establishing Rural
Electricity Distribution Backbone (REDB) and Village Electrification
Infrastructure(VEI) and provides free electricity single point connections to
BPL households, in order to provide affordable access. However, the supply of
electricity to consumers is the responsibility of Distribution Companies/Power
Departments of State Governments.
Government of India has approved the proposal for continuation
of RGGVY in the 12th and 13th Plan:
i) to complete spillover works of projects sanctioned in 10th and 11th Plan;
ii) to cover remaining census villages and habitation with population
above 100; and
iii) to provide free electricity connections to remaining eligible BPL
households.
(c) to (e) : Yes, Madam. Some of the transformers installed under RGGVY
reported burnt. Some of the reasons for burning of transformers are :-
i) Overloading due to un-authorized connections / illegal hooking.
ii) Connected load being more than approved load in households given
connections under the scheme.
iii) Distribution transformers have suitable protection system to avoid
burning in case of overloading or fault. When such protections are bypassed,
Distribution Transformers get burnt in case of overloading or fault.
Repair/replacement of burnt transformers is the responsibility of implementing agency
before the infrastructure is handed over to the Discoms/Power Departments. After handover,
the responsibility for the same shifts to the Discoms/Power Departments, who are expected
to carry out the same as per their norms and procedures.
To reduce the instances of burning of transformers to larger extent, realistic assessment
of load by considering 250 watts for BPL connections and 500 watts for APL connections have
been considered in 12th Plan projects. Further, States have been requested to formulate Detailed
Project Reports (DPRs) for 12th Plan, based on actual field survey so that exact number of
households could be ascertained for accurate estimation of load. Under 12th Plan, bigger
Distribution Transformers (DTs) of 63 and 100 KVA can also be allowed, if proposed by the
States, based on actual field requirement with justification.
