The benefits of the rural electrification programme have been lost by supplying the power for only a few hours a day and a weak system of providing new connections and collecting bills, says Ajay Shankar

The Centre has vented its displeasure over the sluggish pace of implementation of Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGVY), a Centrally sponsored scheme, in Orissa.

Peeved over the slow pace of work executed by the contractors appointed by the Central PSUs responsible for implementing the flagship scheme in the state, the Centre has directed these PSUs to expedite work.

SAMBALPUR: Despite housing the Hirakud dam project which also generates electricity, hundreds of villages in the district continue to be in dark without power.

As many as 473 villages in Sambalpur district await electrification even though schemes like Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyuti Karan Yojana (RGGVY) and Biju Gram Jyoti Yojana have been launched.

THE INDIAN ELECTRICITY ACT, 2003, INITIALly envisaged that the appropriate governments shall endeavour to supply electricity to all areas including villages and hamlets (Section 6), thus placing the responsibility for ensuring rural electricity supply on state governments.

Mounting losses of power distribution companies (discoms) have forced the Centre to press the panic button. Concerned that a part of the burden would finally fall on the Centre, the Planning Commission has sounded out state governments that are unwilling to allow discoms to raise consumer tariffs about the time bomb they are sitting on.

SIPAJHAR, April 12

LUCKNOW: Hitting out at the Mayawati government for miserably failing in managing the power sector and rampant corruption plaguing the UP Power Corporation Ltd, chairperson of UPCC media cell Vivek Singh said that he has shot off a letter to the Centre requesting it to withhold further aid to the Rajiv Gandhi Rural Electrification Project till a Central agency carried out verification of its prope

PALAKKAD: Palakkad district on Tuesday became the first fully electrified district in the country.

Announcing this, Union Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde said that the government was working on a target of bringing electricity to all villages in the next two years.

PALAKKAD: Union Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde has said that all the 1.15 lakh villages in the country will be provided electricity by 2012.

Declaring Palakkad as the first total electrified district in the country at a function in Ottappalam near here on Tuesday, the Minister said that 68,000 villages had been electrified so far.

BHUBANESWAR: Forget about remote tribal pockets and Naxal-hit areas, this gram panchayat in Bhadrak district is going without power even after six decades of Independence.