State seeks Centres intervention to hasten work

BHUBANESWAR: Apprehending non-completion of rural electrification works under Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutkaran Yojana (RGGVY) by March 2012, the State Government has sought Centre’s intervention for expeditious execution of the infrastructure programme. Three central public sector undertakings (CPSUs) - NTPC, NHPC and PGCIL - assigned the job of rural electrification have so far completed works in 31,265 villages against the target of providing electricity to 44,426 un-electrified, de-electrified and partially electrified villages. The programme implemented by the three CPSUs in 2007-08, as many as 13,161 villages are still to be electrified within six months time. The Centre has set a deadline to complete the rural electrification programme by the end of the 11th Plan period. In the current pace at which the programme is being undertaken, maximum 2,195 villages can be electrified by March 2012, Energy Secretary G Mathi Vathanan said. “I am afraid, with the existing deployment of resources and current pace by the CPSUs, it will be impossible on their part to achieve this figure within the stipulated time frame,” he said in a letter to Union Power Secretary P Uma Shankar. The Energy Secretary further pointed out that infrastructure work relating to installation of 11 KV and 33 KV feeder lines and augmentation of sub-stations is grossly lagging behind. “If rural electrification work is completed within the stipulated time, the villages cannot be energised unless the infrastructure is ready,” he said adding, delay in the execution of rural electrification works was mostly due to inadequate deployment of skilled manpower by contractors and sub- contractors engaged by the CPSUs. The NTPC and NHPC should emulate PGCIL which has engaged more  manpower after the visit of its CMD RK Nayak to the State. “It is felt that if similar strategy is adopted by NTPC and NHPC, the performance of entire State could improve under RGGVY and Orissa could achieve the target by the scheduled time line,” Mathi Vathanan said requesting the Centre to suggest NHPC and NTPC to review their performance of rural electrification in the State.