Manipur is ‘fastest reforming state’ in power sector: R.K. Singh

Saubhagya scheme for universal household electrification launched

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Nov 28

Manipur is the ‘fastest reforming state’ in power sector in the country said Union minister of state for power and new & renewable energy, R.K. Singh. He was speaking at the launching function of Saubhagya scheme held at Hotel Classic Grande, Imphal today.

The scheme which is also known as Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Har Bijli Ghar Yojana will provide free electricity connections. It was launched in the presence of Union minister of State for power and new & renewable energy R.K. Singh, state power minister Thongam Biswajit Singh and chief secretary R.R. Rashmi.

R.K. Singh continued that power ministry will provide required financial assistance for strengthening and improvement of infrastructure in the power sector of the state. The Saubhagya scheme can be affordable by poorest of the poor and therefore will be beneficial for all, he added.

Speaking at the function chief minister, N. Biren said Saubhagya scheme would provide power supply to un-electrified households to achieve universal household electrification in the country by December 2018.

Biren noted that majority of the eligible households are in the hill districts of the state. He said that there are 5.76 lakhs households in the state, and out of which electrification of 4 lakhs have been completed by the previous government and the remaining households of around 1.76 lakhs will be electrified under the scheme.

Further he said the government would get power connection free of cost. Metre box, poles, wires and other electrical materials will be provided free of cost and it is only the bills that the beneficiary has to pay, he held. Such schemes would transform the lives of the people of the country, he added.

Biren pointed out that the state government has electrified 972 Census villages under various plans of Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana) and 1,442 census villages under state plan. Under the National Solar Mission, Manipur has been allocated an installation target of 105 MW solar-powers by the year 2022, he added.

During the function, the dignitaries interacted with the beneficiaries of the four districts, Noney, Senapati, Churachanpur and Chandel.

Th. Biswajit Singh, also speaking at the function said that the government has successfully electrified 90 percent household in urban areas and 60 percent in rural areas of the State. The un-electrified 1.76 lakhs household would get power connection under the Saubhagya scheme, he added.

He expressed hope that under the supervision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, all the villages of the country would be electrified by 2019.

He announced that the ministry of power has agreed to provide financial support to fulfil the dreams of the needy people to get power supply in their homes. He assured that the government would achieve the task to provide electricity to every household in the state on time. He appealed to the officials of MSPDCL, MANIREDA to work hard to fulfil the aspirations of the Prime Minister to provide power supply to every household of the country.

On the occasion, an MoU was signed between Rural Electrification Corporation Limited (REC) and Ukhrul District Community Resource Management Society(UDCRMS), a district unit of North Eastern Region Community Resource Management Society(NERCRMS) for the construction of multipurpose hall cum indoor Stadium in Somdal Village, Ukhrul district. 

The function was also attended by executive director of REC, Shakil P Ahmed, joint secretary, ministry of power, A.K Verma and officials of MSPDCL.