Lok Sabha Question No. 3647 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-24
Subject: Closure of AJAY
Ministry: NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY
Asked by: Kaushalendra Kumar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3647

ANSWERED ON 24.03.2022

## CLOSURE OF AJAY

## +3647. SHRI KAUSHALENDRA KUMAR

Will the Minister of NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has launched Street-Lighting National Programme (SLNP) and discontinued Atal Jyoti Yojana (AJAY) since 1st April, 2020 which was successfully being implemented earlier;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons for discontinuing the said Yojana;
- (c)  the quantum of funds spent by the Government on the said Yojana in the country, Statewise;
- (d) the reasons for not following the orders by Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) given to it from MPLAD in phase-II under the said Yojana;
- (e) whether the Government proposes to extend the AJAY;
- (f) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (g) whether work related to street-lighting is already being carried out under the said yojana and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY AND POWER

(SHRI R.K. SINGH)

(a) to (c)  Street Light National program (SLNP) was launched by the Government in January 2015 to  replace  conventional  street  lights  with  smart  and  energy  efficient  LED  street  lights  in  the municipal  sector  across  the  country.  Atal  Jyoti  Yojana  (AJAY)  Phase-II  which  provides  for installation of solar street lights in remote, rural and semi-urban areas, was launched in December, 2018.

Due to outbreak of COVID-19, the Government had decided not to operate Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) for two years i.e. for FY 2020-21 and FY 2021-22. As AJAY Phase-II Scheme was partially funded through MPLADS, the Scheme was also closed w.e.f. 01.04.2020 for new sanctions.

Till date, over Rs. 208 crore has been spent under the Scheme. State-wise details of funds spent is placed at Annexure.

(d) to (g) As the Scheme was closed for new sanctions w.e.f. 01.04.2020, no new sanctions for installation of solar street lights be issued by EESL after this date. However, out of 1.5 lakh solar street lights sanctioned till 31.3.2020, 1.27 lakh lights have been reported installed till 28.2.2022.

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## State Wise Expenditure Detail for AJAY Phase-II

| S. No.   | State            | Fund Utilized (Rs.)   |
|----------|------------------|-----------------------|
| 1        | Andhra Pradesh   | 9,01,28,500           |
| 2        | Madhya Pradesh   | 9,57,00,080           |
| 3        | Rajasthan        | 2,96,93,244           |
| 4        | Gujarat          | 4,91,61,000           |
| 5        | Uttar Pradesh    | 59,59,13,255          |
| 6        | West Bengal      | 15,02,36,016          |
| 7        | Telangana        | 81,93,500             |
| 8        | Assam            | 10,30,25,069          |
| 9        | Bihar            | 36,26,11,536          |
| 10       | Chhattisgarh     | 3,94,92,670           |
| 11       | Himachal Pradesh | 81,93,500             |
| 12       | Jammu &Kashmir   | 9,42,25,250           |
| 13       | Jharkhand        | 5,73,54,500           |
| 14       | Karnataka        | 4,91,61,000           |
| 15       | Manipur          | 1,76,97,960           |
| 16       | Odisha           | 6,33,84,916           |
| 17       | Punjab           | 1,22,90,250           |
| 18       | Tamil Nadu       | 2,70,05,776           |
| 19       | Tripura          | 5,71,90,630           |
| 20       | Uttarakhand      | 13,83,55,441          |
| 21       | Lakshadweep      | 3,27,74,000           |
| Total    | Total            | 2,08,17,88,093        |