There is no dearth of electricity in Chhattisgarh since many power producing units are churning out enough amount of power to cater to the various needs of the State . As a result of persistent efforts to provide electricity supply to all the villages and houses of state, nearly 19 lakh houses have been illuminated with electricity connection over a period of last one decade , informed in an official statement issued here on Friday.
Chief Minister Raman Singh, who is also heading Energy Department said that the total production capacity of State Government's power plants in year 2003 was 1380 MW, which has reached to 2424.5 MW in year 2014. In this way, the total electricity production capacity of State's power sector has increased by 944 MW in last 10 years.
Including the aforementioned households, the number of lT connection-holder families has increased from 20 lakh to 39 lakh. Moreover, in the same period of time, the number of electricity consumers of BPl category has also increased by 8.5 lakh i.e. from 6.5 lakh to 15 lakh.
In year 2003, the consumers of BPl category were availing free supply of electricity of upto 15 unit every month. later in year 2014, the limit of free electricity supply was increased to 40 units
per month.
In last one decade, nearly 2.23 lakh farmers in State have been provided new pump connections, increasing the total number of irrigation pump connection holder farmers in State from 87,000 to 3.10 lakh at present. Under Krishak Jeevan Jyoti Yojana, the farmers are also provided free monthly supply of 6000 unit electricity for pumps of 3-5 horsepower, and that of 7500 unit electricity for pumps of 5 horsepower.
CM Raman Singh said that State Government is taking effective steps, under integrated action plan of electricity production, transmission and distribution, to ensure supply of electricity to each and every village and house of state. Nearly Rs17,000 crores was spent on infrastructural development for electricity transmission and distribution.
The amount of Rs8,652 crores spent on electricity transmission infrastructures has resulted in 97 per cent electrification of rural areas in state. In year 2003, the status of rural electrification was 91
per cent.
Not only the socio-economic and industrial development of State has expedited but also the electricity consumption in both domestic and industrial sector has also increased. Per capita annual power consumption in Chhattisgarh has also increased significantly over the years i.e. from 500 units in year 2003 to 1600 units in year 2014. Chief Minister told that in last 10 years, a major increase of 247 per cent has been recorded in the number of HT (High Tension) line electricity consumers in Chhattisgarh. Number of HT line consumers has increased from 579 to 2010 at present. Power consumption by domestic and lT consumers has increased from 2360 million unit to 6717 million unit. likewise, a significant increase of 70 per cent has been recorded in electricity consumption by HT line consumers.
Chief Minister told that the total production capacity of State Government's power plants in year 2003 was 1380 MW, which has reached to 2424.5 MW in year 2014. In this way, the total electricity production capacity of state's power sector has increased by 944 MW in last 10 years. He told that about five and a half months back on September 2013, Chhattisgarh Power Production Company's Thermal Power Plant of capacity 500 MW was inaugurated in Korba (West) at hands of former Deputy Prime Minister Shri lal Krishna Advani. Including the capacity of aforementioned power plant, the total thermal power production capacity of state government has reached to 2424.5 units. Two months back on December 20, 2013, a 500 MW unit of Madwa Thermal Power Project under State Power Production Company was also successfully tested. State has the target of starting production in both the units (capacity 500 MW each) of this project from this year itself. This will increase the electricity production capacity of state's power section to 3,424 MW.
CM Singh told that a power substation of 400 KV capacity has been established in village Rayta near capital city Raipur, as a part of the infrastructural development works underway for electricity transmission. It is the first time in last 32 years that such a powerful substation has been established in Chhattisgarh. Moreover, in last one decade, the number of 220/132 KV substations in state has increased from 6 to 10 and the number of 132/33 KV substations have increased from 33 to 64. Over last 10 years, the number of 400 KV lines has increased from 277 circuit kilometers to 1231 circuit kilometers, and that of 132 KV lines has increased from 3,269 circuit kilometers to 5,279 circuit kilometers. The total transmission capacity has increased from 2072 MVA to 5576 MVA, in last one decade.