Lok Sabha Question No. 4537 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-27
Subject: Rural Electrification in Assam
Ministry: POWER
Asked by: Shri Amarsing Tisso

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF POWER

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4537 ANSWERED ON 27.03.2025

## RURAL ELECTRIFICATION IN ASSAM

4537.  SHRI AMARSING TISSO:

Will the Minister of POWER be pleased to state:

(a) the status of rural electrification in Assam, particularly in Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao districts including the details of the number of villages yet to be electrified;

(b) the steps taken by the Government to improve the reliability of power supply in remote and tribal areas of Assam;

(c) whether the Government has taken any initiatives to promote renewable energy integration into the State's power grid, and if so, the details thereof;

(d) the details of the funds allocated and utilized for power infrastructure development in Assam during the last five years and the current year; and

(e) whether there are any plans to set up new hydroelectric or solar power projects in Assam, particularly in tribal and hilly areas and if so, the details thereof?

## A N S W E R

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF POWER

(SHRI SHRIPAD NAIK)

(a) & (b) : Government  of  India  has  been  supplementing  the  efforts  of  the  States through schemes like Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY), Integrated Power  Development  Scheme  (IPDS),  Pradhan  Mantri  Sahaj  Bijli  Har  Ghar  Yojana (SAUBHAGYA) and Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), to help them achieve the  objective  of  providing  quality  and  reliable  supply  of  power  to  all  households including remote and tribal areas of Assam.

As reported by the States/UTs, all the inhabited un-electrified census villages in the country were electrified by 28 th  April, 2018. A total of 2,732 villages were electrified for State of Assam. Under DDUGJY and thereafter under SAUBHAGYA, as reported by all States/UTs, electrification of all willing un-electrified households was completed. A total of  23,26,656  households were electrified for State of Assam. Both the schemes stand closed as on 31.03.2022.

...........2.

Government  of  India  launched  the  scheme  of  Revamped  Distribution  Sector Scheme (RDSS) in July 2021 to improve the quality and reliability of supply of power through  operationally  efficient  and  financially  viable  distribution  sector.  Under  the scheme,  projects  have  been  sanctioned  for  loss  reduction  infrastructure  and  smart metering works. For the State of Assam, projects worth Rs. 3,394 Cr and Rs. 4,050 Cr have  been  sanctioned  for  loss  reduction  infrastructure  and  smart  metering  works respectively. Execution of these works would help improve quality of supply of power across the State of Assam.

Government of India is supporting the States for grid electrification of households left-out during SAUBHAGYA, under the ongoing scheme of Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme  (RDSS),  launched  in  July,  2021.  In  addition,  all  households  belonging  to Particularly  Vulnerable  Tribal  Group  (PVTG)  identified  under  PM-JANMAN  (Pradhan Mantri  Janjati  Adivasi  Nyaya  Maha  Abhiyan)  and  households  belonging  to  Scheduled Tribes  identified  under  DA-JGUA  (Dharti  Aaba  Janjatiya  Gram  Utkarsh  Abhiyan)  are being  sanctioned  for  on-grid  electricity  connection  under  RDSS  as  per  the  scheme guidelines.  So  far,  works  for  electrification  of  10.19  lakh  households  have  been sanctioned amounting to Rs. 4,643 Cr. under RDSS. The infrastructure works sanctioned for the State of Assam also include works for electrification of 1.27 lakh households.

The details of works sanctioned and executed for the district of Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao are placed at Annexure-I.

Further, Government of Assam has informed that it has taken up several steps to improve the reliability of power supply like construction of new sub-stations and High Tension (HT) lines and replacement of old and bare conductors with insulated cables under  RDSS  and  Externally  Aided  Project  (EAP)  namely 'Assam  Distribution  System Enhancement and Loss Reduction' project.

- (c) : A  robust  national  grid  has  been  established  to  facilitate  the  transfer  of  power from  power  surplus  regions  to  power  deficit  regions.  The  inter-regional  transmission capacity  has  been  increased  from  75,050  MW  during  2016-17  to  1,18,740  MW  as  on 31.12.2024.  The  capacity  of  National  Grid  is  being  expanded  on  a  continuous  basis commensurate with the  growth in  electricity  generation  and  electricity  demand.  The primary challenges in integrating renewable energy into the grid are intermittency in Renewable Energy (RE) generation, non-availability of adequate flexible resources, etc.

The Government has taken various measures to facilitate the integration of RE resources into the National Grid to ensure reliability and stability as under:

- (i) Construction  of  Intra-State  and  Inter-State  transmission  systems  for evacuation of Renewable power.
- (ii) Transmission  plan  for  integration  of  more  than  500  GW  RE  capacity  by 2030 has been prepared.

.........3.

- (iii) Setting  up  of  Regional  Energy  Management  Centers  (REMCs)  for  better forecasting  of  renewable  power  and  to  assist  grid  operators  to  manage variability and intermittency of renewable power.
- (iv) Innovative  products  like  Solar-Wind  Hybrid  Projects,  RE  projects  with energy storage systems and supply of RE power balanced with power from non-RE sources launched to reduce intermittency.
- (v) Implementation  of  Green  Term  Ahead  Market  (GTAM)  and  Green  Day Ahead Market (GDAM) for sale of renewable energy.
- (vi) Waiver of lnter-State Transmission Charges on transmission of electricity generated from RE sources such as Solar, Wind, and Hydro.
- (vii) Flexibility in generation and Scheduling of Thermal/Hydro Power Stations through bundling with Renewable Energy and Storage Power. Flexibilization of thermal generation is mandated to address the variability of RE generation.
- (viii) Central  Financial  Assistance  (CFA)  is  being  provided  to  the  States  for setting up Transmission infrastructure for RE integration within their State under the Green Energy Corridor Scheme.
- (ix) CEA  (Technical  Standards  for  Connectivity  to  the  Grid)  Regulations  lay down the minimum technical requirements for the RE generating plants to ensure the safe, secure and reliable operation of the grid. The compliances  to  the  said  regulations  by  RE  plants  are  verified  jointly  by Central Transmission  Utility (CTUIL) and  Grid-India /  Regional  Load Despatch Centres (RLDCs) before granting connectivity/interconnection to the national grid. Robust compliances verification is done before interconnection of any new plant to the grid.
- (x) Indian  Electricity  Grid  Code  mandates  that  RE  plants  participate  in  the primary and secondary frequency control in case of contingencies. Hybrid RE power plants, Energy Storage Systems such as BESS (Battery Energy Storage System) and PSP (Pump Storage Project) are being promoted for mitigating  variability  in  RE  generation  and  provide  adequate  frequency support to the grid.

The  measures  taken  by  the  State  of  Assam  for  renewable  integration  and  for promotion of Renewable Energy projects in the State is placed at Annexure-II.

(d) : The details of the Central grant released /utilized during the last five years and the current year in the State of Assam for power infrastructure development is enclosed at Annexure-III.

(e) : As on 28 th  February, 2025, a cumulative capacity of 578.45 MW Renewable Energy which includes 192.34 MW Solar, 350 MW Large Hydro, 34.11 MW Small Hydro and 2MW Bio-Power has been installed in the state of Assam. Presently, Assam Power Generation Corporation Limited (APGCL) is setting up a Lower Kopili (120 MW) hydroelectric power in  Dima  Hasao  District  of  Assam.  The  projects  planned  in  Assam  as  reported  by  the State is placed at Annexure-IV.

**********

ANNEXURE-I

ANNEXURE REFERRED IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) & (b) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.  4537 ANSWERED IN THE LOK SABHA ON 27.03.2025

*************

Details  of  works  executed  under  erstwhile  scheme  of  DDUGJY,  SAUBHAGYA  and sanctioned under RDSS

1. A  total  of  650  and  256  villages  were  electrified  under  DDUGJY  in  the  districts  of Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao respectively.
2. Detail of works undertaken under DDUGJY in the two districts is as below:
3. Projects  worth  Rs  126.46  Cr  and  Rs.  46.97  Cr  have  been  sanctioned  for  loss reduction  infrastructure  works  under  RDSS  for  the  district  of  Karbi  Anglong  and Dima Hasao respectively. The sanctioned works include cabling works, High Voltage Distribution System (HVDS) feeder bifurcation, reconductoring of 11/22kV lines and 33/66kV lines.
4. A total 9,011 and 2,604 households were sanctioned under RDSS for the districts of Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao, respectively.

|   Sl. No. | Items                                 | Units   |   Karbi Anglong |   Dima Hasao |
|-----------|---------------------------------------|---------|-----------------|--------------|
|         1 | Sub-stations (including augmentation) | Nos.    |            5    |         1    |
|         2 | Distribution Transformers             | Nos.    |         2601    |       332    |
|         3 | 11 kV lines                           | CKMs    |         5877.64 |       816.11 |
|         4 | LT lines                              | CKMs    |         4817.48 |       471.35 |
|         5 | 33 kV & 66 kV lines                   | CKMs    |           48.8  |         0.8  |
|         6 | Consumer Energy Meters                | Nos.    |            0    |         0    |
|         7 | Distribution Transformers Meters      | Nos.    |          567    |       300    |
|         8 | 11 kV Feeder Meters                   | Nos.    |           13    |        15    |

**************

ANNEXURE-II

## ANNEXURE REFERRED IN REPLY TO PART (c) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4537 ANSWERED IN THE LOK SABHA ON 27.03.2025 *************

Measures taken in the State of Assam for renewable integration and for promotion of Renewable Energy projects in the State

1. Under  PM  Surya  Ghar:  Muft  Bijli  Yojana,  installation  has  been  done  in  8,748 Households  in  the  State  of  Assam,  out  of  which  5,003  Households  have  been released subsidy amount of Rs. 4.76 Cr.
2. A  total  of  201  MW  of  potential  sites  for  Small  Hydro  Power  (SHP)  have  been identified  in  the  State  of  Assam,  out  of  which  34.11  MW  has  been  the  total installed capacity as of 28.02.2025.
3. The  cumulative  number  of  Off-Grid  Solar  Photo  Voltaic  (SPV)  applications installed/distributed as of 28.02.2025 is tabulated below:
4. The assessed Biomass Power Potential in the State of Assam is 321.89 MWe, out of which, 2 MW of Non-Bagasse Biomass Cogeneration capacity has been installed.
5. The State government has notified Assam Integrated Clean Energy Policy 2025 on 24 th   February  2025  including  Green  Hydrogen,  with  a  target  of  2,000  kTPA  (kilo Tonnes  Per  Annum)  in  the  next  five  years  by  harnessing  the  RE  potential  and creation of 10,000 jobs per annum for production of Green Hydrogen in the State. It also has a target of commissioning at least one green hydrogen valley to cater to the demand from fertilizer plants and refineries within the state.
6. Oil India Limited (OIL) commissioned 'India's first 99.999% pure' Green Hydrogen plant in Assam. The pilot plant set up in central Assam's Jorhat has the capacity producing 10 kg of hydrogen per day.
7. SGEL Assam Renewable Energy Ltd, a joint venture between SJVN Green Energy Ltd  and  Assam  Power  Distribution  Co.  Ltd,  has  plan  to  develop  a  25  MW  green hydrogen plant within the state of Assam.

| Solar Home Lights (in Nos.)   | Solar Lanterns & Lamps (in Nos.)   | Solar Street Lights (in Nos.)   | Solar Power Packs (in kWp)   |
|-------------------------------|------------------------------------|---------------------------------|------------------------------|
| 46,879                        | 6,47,761                           | 29,538                          | 1,605                        |

**************

ANNEXURE-III ANNEXURE REFERRED IN REPLY TO PART (d) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4537 ANSWERED IN THE LOK SABHA ON 27.03.2025

*************

Details of Central funds utilized/ released for power infrastructure development in  the  State  of  Assam from Central sources during the last five years and the current year

(in Rs. Crore)

| Project                                  | 2020- 21   | 2021- 22   |   2022- 23 | 2023- 24   |   2024- 25* | Total   |
|------------------------------------------|------------|------------|------------|------------|-------------|---------|
| RDSS - Distribution Infrastructure Works | -          | -          |       10.4 | 578.7      |       570.1 | 1,159.2 |
| NERPSIP                                  | 182.6      | 265.5      |      131.9 | 91.9       |        40.6 | 712.5   |
| DDUGJY                                   | 415.8      | 339.1      |       33.8 | 933.6      |         0   | 1,722.2 |
| IPDS                                     | 118.5      | 20.5       |        0   | 13.8       |         0   | 152.7   |
| SAUBHAGYA                                | 86.4       | 60.2       |       26.7 | 0.0        |         0   | 173.2   |
| Total                                    | 803.2      | 685.2      |      202.8 | 1,617.9    |       610.7 | 3,919.9 |

*Released/ Provisional Figures

*************

ANNEXURE-IV ANNEXURE REFERRED IN REPLY TO PART (e) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.

4537 ANSWERED IN THE LOK SABHA ON 27.03.2025 *************

Projects proposed to be set up by the State of Assam

1. As  reported  by  the  State  of  Assam,  the  Government  of  Assam  is  in  the process of setting up a 1000 MWp Solar Project under Mukhya Mantri Sauro Shakti Prokolpo in Karbi Anglong district of Assam.
2. The  Govt.  of  Assam  has  taken  up  the  following  projects  for  generation  of solar power in the State of Assam:
3.  Implementation of 1000 MWp (750 M WAC) Solar Power Plant in the State under "Mukhya Mantri Sauro Shakti Prokolpo" with ADB funds.
4.  Development of 1000 MW Renewable Power Projects by Joint Venture (JV) of APDCL and SJVN Green Energy Ltd.
5.  Development  of  1000  MW  Renewable  Power  Projects  JV  of  APDCL  and NLC India Ltd.
6.  Setting up of 250 MW Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) JV of APDCL and ONGC Tripura Power Company Ltd.
7.  Procurement of 70 M W Solar power from Grid Connected Ground Mounted Solar PV Project to be developed under Build-Own-Operate (BOO) mode by SJVN.
8.  Procurement of 50 M W Solar power from Grid Connected Ground Mounted Solar PV Project to be developed under Build-Own-Operate (BOO) mode by SJVN.
9.  Procurement  of  200  M  W  Solar  power  from  Grid  Connected  Ground Mounted Solar PV Project to be developed under Build-Own-Operate (BOO) mode by SJVN.
10. ************