Centre to do impact study on implementation of RGGVY work

--Minister Jena lashes at distribution companies for delay in electrification work

BHUBANESWAR: The Central Government will do an impartial impact study to see the problems in the micro-level in the areas where rural electrification has already been completed, said Minister of State (IC) for Statistics and Programme Implemenatation Srikant Jena during a review meeting of the Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY) with the officials Rural Electrification Corporation (REC) and concerned officials of the State Government here on Monday.

Jena said they will work in the micro-level according to the impact study where we can find missing links which delays the work as the deadline of the RGGVY was this March end. The study will be carried out across the country and it will be completed within three months, he added.

He also said that around 1.5 lakh BPL families are to be included in the RGGVY programme. For this purpose adequate fund will be provided in the twelfth five-year plan, he added. Jena directed the State Government to make a detailed project report on the hamlets where electrification could not be completed due to some reasons.

“I’m not satisfied with the distribution companies’ work to implement the RGGVY programme as only 44 per cent work is completed till now. The companies should give emphasis on upgradation of its existing infrastructure to meet the rising demands from the consumers as the companies are charging fee from them and hiking fee from time to time,” Jena said.

Jena also revealed that the rural electrification work was delayed due to lack of coordination between the REC and State Government, but the Department of Energy of the State Government and the REC will work out for the immediate implementation of the work.

Under the RGGVY, a total of 44,184 villages of the State were taken up out of which electrification work has been completed in 21,607 villages only. Three companies NTPC, Powergrid and NHPC were involved in the programme. NTPC and Powergrid each have taken 12 districts and NHPC six districts for rural electrification. The companies like NTPC, Powergrid and NHPC have completed only 34 percent, 35 per cent and 55.4 percent work respectively. All the companies have promised to complete the work by December 31, informed REC Executive Director SK Lohani.