Expenditure of Rs 2250,88,36,000 relating to the Energy Department was passed in the State Assembly following a marathon discussion on Tuesday.
Besides, Expenditures of 24 Departments, for which discussions could not be taken up, were passed through guillotine.
During discussions on the Demand for Grants of the Energy Department, Opposition BJP and Congress slammed the State Government for frequent power cuts occurring across the State and for not providing free electricity to farmers. They also demanded that uninterrupted power supply be made available to all households in villages and towns.
BJP Chief Whip Mohan Charan Majhi, Congress member Mohammad Moquim and BJD’s Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak and Prashant Muduli participated in the discussion.
In his reply, Energy Minister Dibya Shankar Mishra said the State has now become a power supply State. The number of electricity consumers has increased from 16 lakh to 96 lakh during the last 20 years.
The number of grids have increased from 61 to 148 and the number of 33/11 KV substations has increased from 550 to 833. The AT and C loss has decreased to 30 per cent.
The Mishra announced that dedicated power would be supplied to all District Head Quarters Hospitals in two years’ time.
As per the schedule, the Appropriation Bill of the Annual Budget would be presented and passed in the Assembly on Wednesday.
