THE MINISTER OF POWER (SHRI SUSHILKUMAR SHINDE)
(a) to (f) : A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (f) OF
STARRED QUESTION NO. 82 TO BE ANSWERED IN THE LOK SABHA
ON 28.07.2006 REGARDING RURAL ELECTRIFICATION.
(a) : The number of electrified and un-electrified villages in the country state-wise
is at ANNEXURE-I.
(b) : The targets fixed and achieved in term of rural electrification during the last
three years are as under : -
Year Target Achievement
2003-04 24011 2781
2004-05 23861 3884
2005-06 10,000 9819
(c) & (d) : Government has implemented a number of schemes for rural electrification
viz. Minimum Need Programme (MNP), Pradhan Mantri Gramodaya Yojana (PMGY), Kutir
Jyoti (KJ) Accelerated Rural Electrification Programme (AREP), Accelerated Electrification
of one lakh villages and one crore households. However, the schemes could not get desired
results because :-
(i) The pace and direction of rural electrification was left to the states and that had a decelerating effect on rural electrification.
(ii) Funds did not reach the implementing agencies in time.
(iii) State utilities were in bad financial health and were unable to provide support to the schemes.
(iv) State Electricity Boards were reluctant to take up rural electrification as it would lead to more losses.
(v) The revenue sustainability of the additional electrification infrastructure was not being taken in to account to service the debts and to recover the cost of the investment made in the infrastructure.
(vi) The State Utilities did not have adequate man power in rural areas for maintenance of rural electricity infrastructure so created.
(e) : Under Minimum Need Programme only village electrification was aimed
at. However, under Kutir Jyoti Programme free connection to BPL families was
provided for.
Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana(RGGVY) provides for inter-
alia 100% free connection to Below Poverty Line(BPL) families. So far, 42,745 BPL
connections have been provided under RGGVY. State-wise BPL connections released
under RGGVY are at ANNEXURE-II.
(f) : In order to intensify the rural electrification and to provide electricity to all
villages Government of India launched Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana in
April, 2005. It aims at providing electricity to all villages by 2009. Under RGGVY 90%
grant is provided for creation of rural electricity infrastructure. All the earlier schemes
have been merged with RGGVY. The steps taken under the scheme, inter-alia, are:-
(i) Rural Electricity Distribution Backbone Component has been included in the rural electrification programme for the first time.
(ii) Village electrification has been taken on a project mode basis. Projects have been taken on turnkey basis for effective implementation.
(iii) To ensure revenue sustainability of the rural electricity distribution, franchisee installation for management of distribution has been mandatory under the scheme.
(iv) States have been advised to set up District Committees to monitor the progress of rural electrification work.
(v) Services of Central Public Sector Utilities viz. National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC), Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (POWERGRID), National Hydro Electric Power Corporation Limited (NHPC) and Damodar Valley Corporation Limited (DVC) have been made available for implementing the scheme in those states which wish to avail their services.
(vi) Rural Electrification Corporation Ltd.(REC) is the nodal agency for implementation of RGGVY. It has developed a framework covering guidelines for formulation of projects, bidding procedures for procurement of goods and services for projects to be executed on turn key basis, franchising under RGGVY. REC has also updated its existing technical specifications for equipment/material and construction standards for adoption in project implementation/execution.
(vii) A Monitoring Committee for RGGVY has been constituted under Chairmanship of Secretary (Power) to periodically review the implementation of RGGVY.
