Rs 3,000 crore for electricity supply to poor families of Odisha
The State Government will submit the proposals to the Centre for approval and release of funds under the Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana, also known as ‘Saubhagya’ scheme.
Published: 06th June 2018 06:12 AM | Last Updated: 06th June 2018 06:12 AM | A+A A-
BHUBANESWAR: With over 33.13 lakh households of the State remaining without electricity, the State Government on Tuesday sanctioned project worth Rs 3,325 crore for power supply to poor and economically weaker families under ‘Saubhagya’ scheme.
Project proposals of four power distribution companies - Cesu, Nesco, Southco and Wesco - submitted by Energy Department was approved by the State Level Standing Committee headed by Chief Secretary AP Padhi.
The State Government will submit the proposals to the Centre for approval and release of funds under the Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana, also known as ‘Saubhagya’ scheme. The Central share under the scheme is 60 per cent while the balance 40 per cent will be the State’s contribution.While poor households will be provided electricity connections free of cost, other households will get power under the scheme on payment of Rs 500 which will be recovered by the power distribution companies (Discoms) in 10 instalments along with electricity bills.
Free electricity connections are being given under the scheme on the basis of the Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) 2011 data.In urban areas, households having no access to power mainly because they are not capable of paying the initial connection charges will be covered under the programme, official sources said.
The objective of ‘Saubhagya’ is to provide energy access to all by last mile connectivity and electricity connection to all willing un-electrified households in rural as well as urban areas to achieve universal household electrification by 2019.
While the State Government claimed to have provided electricity to about 71 lakh households, the real-time Saubhagya dashboard said 68 lakh households have access to electricity.
The State Government has provided electricity to about 2.22 lakh households since launching of the programme by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in September 2017.
Household electrification is less than 50 per cent in Balangir, Nabarangpur and Kalahandi districts. Balangir is at the bottom of the list with household electrification of only 45.62 per cent.
