Lok Sabha Question No. 3037 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-16
Subject: Status of Power Infrastructure
Ministry: POWER
Asked by: Sangeeta Kumari Singh Deo, Bhola Singh, Jayanta Kumar Roy, Raja Amareshwara Naik, Vinod Kumar Sonkar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF POWER LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3037

## ANSWERED ON 16.12.2021

## STATUS OF POWER INFRASTRUCTURE

3037.  SHRIMATI SANGEETA KUMARI SINGH DEO:

SHRI BHOLA SINGH:

DR. JAYANTA KUMAR ROY: SHRI RAJA AMARESHWARA NAIK: SHRI VINOD KUMAR SONKAR:

Will the Minister of POWER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has set up District Level Committees to monitor all power related schemes;
- (b) if so, the details thereof including objectives, composition and function, etc. of the said Committees;
- (c) the details of the role of public representatives therein;
- (d) the  details  of  the  Committee  constituted,  meetings  held  and  its  outcome, district-wise;
- (e) whether  Committees  would  also  look  at  impact  on  the  provision  of  power services to the people;
- (f) if so, the details thereof;
- (g) whether  the  Government  has  made  any  assessment  of  status  of  power infrastructure at district levels and if so, the details thereof; and
- (h) the steps being taken by the Government to meet challenges in power system at district level?

## A N S W E R

THE MINISTER OF POWER AND NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY

(SHRI R.K. SINGH)

- (a) to (f) : Ministry of Power had issued an order dated 16.09.2021 for the setting up of District Level Committees which shall exercise oversight over all power related schemes of Government of India; as also their impact on the provision of services to the people.

………2.

## The Composition of the Committee would be:

| (a)   | Senior most MP in the district                                                                                                                      | Chairperson      |
|-------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------|
| (b)   | Other MPs in the district                                                                                                                           | Co-chairpersons  |
| (c)   | District Collector                                                                                                                                  | Member Secretary |
| (d)   | Chairperson/President of the District Panchayat                                                                                                     | Member           |
| (e)   | MLAs of the district                                                                                                                                | Members          |
| (f)   | Senior most representative of CPSUs of Ministries of Power and NRE located in the concerned district, or their nominated officials for the district | Members          |
| (g)   | Chief Engineer/Superintending Engineer of the DISCOM/Power Department concerned                                                                     | Convenor         |

The Committee will meet at District Headquarters at least once in three months to review and coordinate overall development of power supply infrastructure in the district in accordance with the schemes of the Government which may, interalia, include the following aspects:

- i. All Government of India Schemes (power related), including their progress and quality issues.
- ii. Development  of  Sub-transmission  and  distribution  network  including  regular operations  and  maintenance  of  network  -  identifying  further  areas  where strengthening is needed.
- iii. Impact of the works on quality and reliability of power supply.
- iv. Standards of Performance and consumer services/ quality of supply.
- v. Complaints and Grievance Redressal System.
- vi. Any other relevant matter.

It would be the responsibility of the Convenor and Member Secretary to conduct  the  meetings  on  regular  basis  and  issue  minutes  of  the  meeting  timely. States  have  been  asked  to  notify  and  ensure  establishment  of  these  District Electricity  Committees.  So  far,  it  is  reported  that  the  States  of  Uttar  Pradesh, Jharkhand and Odisha have notified constitution of the Committees.

- (g) & (h) : The primary responsibility for conducting any assessment of the status of  power  infrastructure  including  at  District  levels  lies  with  the  concerned  State Governments/Power Distribution Companies (DISCOMs).

For supplementing the requirements of power infrastructure of States, Ministry of Power has notified the 'Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme: (RDSS)' on 20.07.2021 with an outlay of Rs.3,03,758 Crore and an estimated Gross Budgetary Support (GBS) from Central Government of Rs.97,631 Crore. The Scheme seeks to improve the operational efficiency and financial sustainability of all Discoms/Power Departments excluding private Discoms by providing conditional financial assistance to  Discoms  for  strengthening  of  supply  infrastructure  and  for  installation  of  Smart Meters in Pre-paid mode. The Scheme aims to reduce the AT&C losses to pan-India levels of 12-15% and ACS-ARR gap to zero by 2024-25.

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