In order to achieve universal electrification target in a quantifiable manner, the State Government has started working to declare as many as six districts totally electrified by November this year. This is being done in accordance with the larger goal to achieve complete electrification of the State by 2018.
Holding a review meeting of the Energy Department on Wednesday where all the agencies taking part in the electrification process participated, Chief Minister Raghubar Das told the stakeholders to work tirelessly in that direction.
“Seven lakh households have been provided with electricity connections since December 2014 when only 38 lakh households out of total 68 lakh had access to electricity. We all have to work to complete the task of total electrification by taking connections to remaining 23 lakh families by 2018. For that some smaller goals have to be set that include declaring six districts of the State completely covered with electricity by November this year,” said the CM.
He also stressed on completing work of 112 power sub-stations by March, 2018 and called upon contractors to take personal interest in this regard. “Team work is needed for this task. The Department has simplified payment process for contractors so that they do not have to take rounds of the officials,” added Das.
Indicating towards some inaccessible areas falling in hilly and difficult terrains, the CM emphatically said that the power coverage would not leave any black spot. “Electricity connection would reach even to most difficult places of the State at any cost. All the contractors working in such areas should raise their manpower to achieve the target,” he said and also directed them to hold a coordination meeting with the Forest and Environment Department to get clearances on time. He, on the occasion, also heard the concerns of the officials and contractors.
The CM, at the same time, underlined the importance of electrification terming it fundamental need of the mankind. He also said that progress in that direction is being monitored at the Prime Minister’s level from time to time. A similar review meeting would take place again in two months.
Energy Secretary Nitin Madan Kulkarni, JBVNl Managing Director Rahul Purwar and MD of JBSNl Niranjan Kumar were among those present in the meeting besides, different agencies working in the field of rural and urban electrification.