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New Delhi : Minister of State (IC) for Power and New & Renewable Energy R K Singh launched the Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana, ‘Saubhagya’, Web Portal here on November 16, 2017. The portal can be accessed at http://saubhagya.gov.in.
Addressing the media during the event, Singh said that the Saubhagya Dashboard is a platform for monitoring household electrification progress, which would disseminate information on Household Electrification Status (State, District, village-wise), Household Progress on live basis, State-wise Target vs Achievement, Monthly Electrification Progress, etc, according to a PIB release.
The Minister said that achieving electrification of 4 crore households is a big challenge, nevertheless the Government is committed to achieve this target by December 2018 with the cooperation from all the States. This would, in turn, bring about a huge improvement in the quality of life of the citizens of India. The Government is bringing a change in the power ecosystem in the country by pushing towards mandatory metering of all new electrical connections through pre-paid or smart meters. This would make paying of electricity bills viable for the poor, reduce power losses and increase compliance in paying electricity bills, Singh said.
Talking about the Saubhagya Portal, the Minister said that through this online platform every state would feed in the current status of progress of electrification works hence enabling the creation of a system of accountability for the state utility/ DISCOM and help in increasing their viability. Seven states including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Mizoram, Nagaland, Chhattisgarh and Assam have given their requirements to the Power Ministry for funds under the Saubhagya Scheme, which would be released soon for aiding the respective electrification works, Singh added.
The Saubhagya web-portal has a feature on village electrification camps and in line with that, DISCOMs will organize camps at villages/cluster of villages for facilitating on-the-spot filling up of application forms and to complete requisite documentation to expedite release of electricity connections to households, Singh informed. All the states have been asked to announce the schedules of the village camps to be held and create awareness among the people about the one-stop facility for getting electricity connections, according to the PIB release.
Singh also informed that the Ministry has directed NTPC to mix straw/ crop residue pellets with coal up to 10% for power generation at all its Thermal Power Plants. This step would reduce crop residue burning in agriculture dominated states like Punjab, Haryana and reduce air pollution.
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