44.41 lakh BPL households get free power connections in last 3 years: RK Singh

The Power Ministry on Tuesday said that 15,183 villages have been electrified in the country out of 18,452, as on November 30, 2017. The Ministry has also provided free electricity connections to 44.41 lakh BPL households under DDUGJY across the country during the last three years. 

In a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today, Minister of State for Power Raj Kumar Singh said that on April 1, 2015, there were 18,452 un-electrified villages in the country and as on November 30, 2017, as many as 15,183 villages have been electrified. He said that all un-electrified villages are targeted for electrification by May 1, 2018, while adding that during the drive 1052 villages were found to be un-inhabited. 

Citing reports from states/UTs, Singh said that 14,528 villages have been electrified during the last three years.

Further, a subsidy of Rs 15,840 crores has been released under Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY) across the country during the last three years i.e. 2014-15 to 2016-17, Singh said, adding that free electricity connections to 44.41 lakh BPL households have been released under DDUGJY across the country in the same period.

It may be noted that electricity is a concurrent subject and distribution of electricity to consumers including poor villagers is primarily the responsibility of the respective state government/ distribution utility. 

In several states, such as Rajasthan, Punjab, Odisha, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh supply to BPL (Below Poverty Line) consumers is at comparatively lower tariff, the Minister stated.