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Union Minister asks NHPC to expedite electrification project work

Berhampur: The Centre has asked the executing agency of the Centrally-sponsored Rajiv Gandhi Vidyutkarana Yojana to expedite work and complete the project in Ganjam and Gajapati districts by March this year.

Instruction in this regard was given by Union Minister of State for Rural Development Chandra Sekhar Sahu during his visit here, official sources said on Friday. Public sector National Hydro Power Corporation (NHPC) has been entrusted to execute the programme in the two districts.

The aim of the project is to provide electricity to villages, which are without power supply.

Out of 590 and 475 un-electrified villages in Gajapati and Ganjam districts respectively, 444 and 189 villages have been covered so far.

Similarly out of 131 and 36 de-electrified villages where power supply was snapped due to various reasons in these districts, the achievement was made only 11 and 19 in Gajapati and Ganjam districts respectively, General Manager of NHPC B.K. Ray informed.

The NHPC started the project work in November 2007 and targetted to achieve total electrification of both the districts by March 2009.

The total cost of the project is around Rs. 199 crore, which includes Rs. 116 crore for Ganjam and Rs. 83 crore for Gajapati districts.

Lack of sufficient electric polls and labour and presence of hilly, forest areas and anti-social activities were among the reasons for the delay in the progress of the programme, particularly in tribal dominated Gajapati district, the General Manager said.

The Union Minister, however, asked the implementing agency to expedite the work and to ensure its completion within stipulated time. – PTI

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