Lok Sabha Question No. 3577 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-23
Subject: Electrification of Villages
Ministry: POWER
Asked by: UDIT RAJ, BHAGWANTH KHUBA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF POWER

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3577 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.03.2017

## ELECTRIFICATION OF VILLAGES

3577. DR.UDIT RAJ: SHRI BHAGWANTH KHUBA:

Will the Minister of POWER be pleased to state:

- (a) the definition of rural electrification;
- (b) the scheme being implemented by the Government for rural electrification;
- (c) the details of the success achieved by the scheme including the number of villages  which  have  been  electrified  during  the  current  financial  year  and  the timeframe fixed for electrification of all villages in the country; and
- (d) whether his Ministry is aware of a study conducted by Council of Energy, Environment  and  Water  (CEEW)  and  Columbia  University  which  states  that  the rural households continue to lag behind in rural electrification, if so, the details thereof and the steps proposed to be taken thereon?

## A N S W E R

THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR POWER, COAL, NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY AND MINES

( SHRI  PIYUSH GOYAL )

- (a) : According  to  Rural  Electrification  (RE)  Policy  2006,  a  village  is reported as electrified, if
- i)  basic infrastructure such as Distribution Transformer and Distribution Lines are  provided  in  the  inhabited  locality  as  well  as  the  locality  inhabited  by weaker sections of the society/hamlet where it exists,
- ii)  electricity  is  provided  to  public  places  like  Schools,  Panchayat  Offices, Health Centres, Dispensaries, Community Centres etc., and
- iii)  the  number  of  households  electrified  should  be  at  least  10%  of  the  total number of households in the village.

A  village  is  reported  to  be  electrified  by  the  States,  if  it  fulfills  the above mentioned norms. However, the level of infrastructure may vary in different habitations of the same village. (b) : Government of India has approved Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana  (DDUGJY)  with  an  outlay  of  Rs.43033  crore  in  December,  2014  for separation of agriculture and non-agriculture feeders facilitating judicious rostering of supply to agricultural & non-agricultural consumers in the rural areas, strengthening and augmentation of sub-transmission & distribution infrastructure in rural areas, including rural electrification and metering at distribution transformers/feeders/consumers. (c) : As reported by the States, 5,256 villages have been electrified during the  current  financial  year  (up  to  28.02.2017).    All  the  un-electrified  villages  are targeted to be electrified  by 1 st  May, 2018. (d) : Council  of  Energy,  Environment  and  Water  (CEEW)  has  published Energy Access Survey.  Government of India has taken up a joint initiative with States/UTs for preparation of State specific documents for providing '24x7 Power for All' and adequate supply to agriculture consumers as per state policy.  As on date, all States and Union Territories except Uttar Pradesh have signed the '24x7 Power for All' documents, with the Union Government.

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