Lok Sabha Question No. 435 (STARRED), answered on 2021-03-25
Subject: Irregularities under Saubhagya
Ministry: POWER
Asked by: Sandhya Ray

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF POWER

LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.435 TO BE ANSWERED ON 25.03.2021

IRREGULARITIES UNDER SAUBHAGYA

†*435. SHRIMATI SANDHYA RAY:

Will the Minister of POWER be pleased to state:

(a) the  amount  of  funds  provided  by  the  Government  to  Madhya  Pradesh  under Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana-Saubhagya during the last three years and the current year with special reference to Chambal and Gwalior regions;

(b) whether  the  estimates  prepared  by  the  department  are  overstated  but  the expenditure is shown as per the estimates and the remaining amount is used for other works and if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether any irregularities have been found in this regard and if so, the details thereof along with the investigation conducted for the purpose;

(d) the  details  of  the  officers  found  guilty  in  the  said  investigation  alongwith  the action taken against them; and

(e) the  details  of  the  investigation  report  prepared  by  the  team  of  the  Union Government and the State Government of Madhya Pradesh in this regard?

A N S W E R

THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR POWER, NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY AND THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR SKILL DEVELOPMENT & ENTREPRENEURSHIP

(SHRI  R.K. SINGH)

(a) to (e) : A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF STARRED QUESTION NO.435 TO BE ANSWERED  IN THE LOK SABHA ON 25.03.2021 REGARDING IRREGULARITIES UNDER SAUBHAGYA

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(a) : Under Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana - Saubhagya, funds are not  allocated  or  released  region-wise.  Under  the  Scheme,  Government  of  India  had sanctioned an amount of Rs. 872.6 Crore for the State of Madhya Pradesh based on the un-electrified household data submitted by the State. Since launch of the Saubhagya scheme and till 28.2.2021, Rs. 413.78 Crore has been released to the State of Madhya Pradesh.  The  year-wise  details  of  funds  sanctioned  and  released  to  the  State  of Madhya Pradesh are as under:-

(Rupees in Crore)

| Name of   | Sanctioned   | Grant released till 28.02.2021   | Grant released till 28.02.2021   | Grant released till 28.02.2021   | Grant released till 28.02.2021   | Grant released till 28.02.2021   |
|-----------|--------------|----------------------------------|----------------------------------|----------------------------------|----------------------------------|----------------------------------|
| Scheme    | Amount       | 2017-18                          | 2018-19                          | 2019-20                          | 2020-21                          | Total                            |
| Saubhagya | 872.6        | 260.37                           | 147.09                           | -                                | 6.32                             | 413.79                           |

- (b) : The Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) were prepared by the Discoms of the State as per their approved Schedule of Rates (SoR). The reduction in final cost, if any shall  be  deducted  on  submission  of  closure  report  by  the  Discoms  from  the  balance grant to be released.

Under Saubhagya, the tendering for award of contracts and implementation  of  works  is  done  by  the  respective  State  Power  Utilities  /  Project Implementing Agencies; and in the case of Madhya Pradesh, awards were placed by three utilities viz. (i) Madhya Pradesh Paschim Kshetra Vidyut Vitran, Indore, (ii)Madhya Pradesh Madhya Kshetra Vidyut Vitran Company Limited, Bhopal, (iii) Madhya Pradesh Poorv Kshetra Vidyut Vitaran Company Limited, Jabalpur.

The Saubhagya Guidelines do not permit use of the sanctioned amount for any other works. Further, no such request has been received or approved for using the sanctioned amount under Saubhagya for other works.

(c) to (e) : Government of India has appointed REC Ltd as the Nodal Agency for the Scheme. As per the Scheme Guidelines, the Nodal Agency shall monitor physical and financial  progress  of  the  projects  including  quality  of  works  through  a  three  tier mechanism  of  (i)  quality  control  of  turnkey  contractor,  (ii)  quality  control  of  PIA through Project Management Agency (PMA) and (iii) quality control exercised by the nodal agency i.e. REC. No irregularities have been reported by the State Government of Madhya Pradesh or the DISCOMs to REC.

In order to conduct inspections and rectification in an efficient manner, an online quality portal 'Sakshya' has been devised by the nodal agency for uploading of  observations  by  quality  monitoring  agencies  and  submission  of  compliances  by DISCOMs/PIAs.

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