Rural electrification in the State has been extended to around 96 per cent of the villages. This was ascertained at a high-level review meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi at the State Secretariat on Friday.
Energy Principal Secretary Rajesh Kumar Verma along with Gridco CMD Hemant Kumar Sharma presented the updates on the subject and outlined the issues for discussion.
Reviewing the progress made so far, the Chief Secretary directed the officials to complete the programmed works within the stipulated time by covering the left-out villages and hamlets expeditiously.
The issues relating to forest and wildlife clearances were discussed and resolved at the meeting. The Government has set a target to complete the works by October-November this year. A universal access to electricity has been targeted to be accomplished by March 2017.
Available data showed that out of 47,677 villages as per Census, 2011, 45,236 villages constituting around 96 per cent have got power connectivity by June 30. Out of the balance 2,441 villages, 541 have been identified as uninhabited villages. A detail action plan has been prepared to cover rest of the villages.
To have expeditious implementation, the works have been allocated to the agencies like PGCIl, OPTCl, OREDA and NTPC. Meanwhile, preparatory steps like detailed survey and preparation of the projects, bidding, etc., have been expedited.
The OREDA has targeted to complete electrification of 275 villages by November 2016. Out of this 198 villages would be connected through micro-grid and 76 would be covered through standalone solar projects. Around 12,000 households would be benefited through this scheme. Similarly, PGCIl, NTPC and OPTCl have expedited their works to electrify 6,62,667 and 341 villages and hamlets.
Forest and Environment Principal Secretary Suresh Chandra Mohapatra, Science and Technology Secretary Venu Gopal, CESU CEO SK Popil and OREDA CEO Roopa Mishra, along with other senior officers from respective departments participated in the deliberations.