Chief Minister Raghubar Das on Sunday rolled out center’s Saubhagya scheme, meant to provide power connectivity to every household, in the State. Prime Minister had earlier this year announced the scheme for the country that also talks about several consumer oriented reforms in the field of power supply.
The CM on the occasion termed the initiative a new beginning for the State. “The new start is going to come when the year is coming to its end. We all have to work with new energy policy in the way of better Jharkhand in 2018.
The Government during its three years tenure has taken power connections to 13 lakh new homes and we are aiming to cover the remaining 17.64 lakh households by December 2018,” said the CM in his address. The Government under the scheme would hold a camp from January 20 for providing power connections.
Raghubar Das while terming the upcoming year as ‘year of energy revolution’ said that the Government is working to provide round the clock power supply which would not only change the mindset of the people but also bring quantitative change in their lives.
“Children can study till late and famers would get benefits of lift irrigation. Youths would get access to the outside world. If the State has to walk along with the world then it has to keep ambitious target in mind,” he said.
The CM on the occasion also pledged that the State would be developed into power hub by 2022 so that it is able to supply electricity to the other States instead of presently being a coal supplier. “This would make the State self dependent and the Government is working with this mission and vision. We have planned to take off-grid power through solar energy at the inaccessible places where grid connectivity is not possible.
There are 248 such villages located in hilly and difficult terrains.
Some such villages like Pesrar of Lohardaga, Gudri of West Singhbhum, Garu of Latehar and Bandaria of Garhwa have been covered in that way. The Government is also working to have separate grids for domestic and farming purposes,” he added
Under the Saubhagya scheme over 17.64 lakh families in rural areas and 1.64 in urban areas would be provided power connection in the State. Poor families would be provided free power connectivity while the APL families would have to pay just Rs 500 for this which can also be paid in easy installments.