Hundred percent household electrification achieved in 25 States

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi : The nation has achieved yet another milestone in the power sector with completion of electrification in hundred percent household in 25 states at the year end.

Now, only about 10.48 lakh households are left to be electrified in 4 States viz., Assam, Rajasthan, Meghalaya, and Chhattisgarh. These States are also making all concerted efforts to achieve, at the earliest, saturation of household electrification in their respective States.

The Minister of State (IC) for Power and New & Renewable Energy R K Singh congratulated all these States for achieving this herculean task. Taking note of the volume of electrification work that was completed in UP, Singh thanked Shrikant Sharma, Energy Minister, UP, during a meeting with him here on December 31, 2018.

Since launch of Saubhagya, in Uttar Pradesh 74.4 lakh willing households have been electrified and State Government has declared saturation of all 75 districts. Government of Uttar Pradesh has launched a special campaign in all parts of the State to identify any left out un-electrified household and to provide electricity connections to such households. Under the campaign, a special vehicle ‘Saubhagya Rath’ is moving around in villages/towns and any left out household may approach them to avail electricity connection under the scheme. Also, any left out household requiring electricity connection may dial 1912 to avail the facility.

The Government of India launched ‘Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana’  (Saubhagya) in September 2017 to achieve the goal of universal household electrification in the country by March 31, 2019. The scheme envisages to provide last mile connectivity and electricity connections to all remaining households in rural as well as urban areas. The Government, with the support of State Power Departments and DISCOMs, have already connected about 2.39 crore households since launch of scheme, according to a PIB release.