Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, Dec 16: Aiming hundred percent rural electrification in Jammu and Kashmir during the 12th Five Year Plan, the State Government has formulated a comprehensive Rural Electrification Plan.
Through this Rural Electrification Plan 2012-17, the Government aims at achieving provision of access to electricity to all households, quality and reliable power supply at reasonable rates and minimum lifeline consumption of one unit per household per day as a merit good.
Taking into account overall scenario of the State power system, the electrification plan also envisages capacity addition at generation, transmission and distribution levels.
As per the latest survey, there are 24655 number of habitations in J&K and 13649 of them are electrified. Similarly 6554 villages, out of 6657 total, are electrified. Therefore, the number of left out villages and inhabitations, which are not electrified, is 103 and 11006, respectively.
Out of 103 un-electrified villages, 73 number shall be electrified from grid source whereas 30 others, located in Ladakh region, shall be electrified through non-grid sources.
Likewise, out of 11006un-electrified habitations, 10809 shall be electrified through grid sources and 197 through non-grid sources. Out of 10809 habitations, 8758 qualify for electrification through Rajiv Gandhi Gramin Vidyutkaran Yojana (RGGVY) Phase-II scheme while the remaining 2051 shall be taken up under the State Plan.
The most inaccessible and far flung areas will be covered by the Science and Technology Department through non-conventional sources.
Pertinent to mention that under RGGVY scheme, 90 percent capital subsidy is to be provided by the central Government for overall cost of the project.
Rural Electrification Commission has been nominated as the nodal agency to coordinate with Government of Jammu Kashmir to oversee the implementation of RGGVY works.
As per census 2011 in accordance with revised definition of village electrification, the total number of rural consumers in J&K is 1287037 and 1078987 number of the households have been electrified as on date.
Among the 208049 number of un-electrified rural households, 189891 will be covered under RGGVY-II.
According to the guidelines of RGGVY scheme, electrification of un-electrified Below Poverty Line (BPL) households would be financed with 100 percent capital subsidy in all rural habitations. There are 165446 number of un-electrified rural BPL households as on date.
To meet the requirements for 100 percent rural electrification, the net power generation at the end of 12th plan is expected to rise 4557 MW from the existing 2457 MW by effectively harnessing hydro potential of the State.
Pertinent to mention that around 9000 MW capacity is under execution under State sector, Central sector, IPP mode and joint venture, out of which around 2100 MW is scheduled to come up by the end of 12th Five Year Plan.
Since capacity addition is a vital component for rural electrification, the plan envisages augmentation of existing 33/11 KV transformation capacities. For feeding uncovered rural areas, the additional requirement is 123.03 MVA for Jammu division, 105.6 MVA for Kashmir division and 28.9 MVA for Ladakh. Therefore, the grand total requirement is 257.53 MVA, which will be developed in blocks.
Electrification of inaccessible villages will be done through Stand Alone systems and non-conventional sources. In entire J&K, there are total 15 such hamlets in Poonch district, which will be electrified through non-grid sources under the project funded by Union Ministry of Non-Conventional and Renewable Energy (MNRE). This project has been entrusted to J&K Department of Science and Technology.
However, such remote villages shall not be designated as electrified till appropriate solutions are found to provide electricity there through RGGVY-II or State Plan to meet the requirements of the definations of village electrification.
All rural electrification works under the State level schemes will be implemented through the open tendering route only. To facilitate updating of data base, the implementing agencies shall ensure mapping of rural 11 KV network based on Geographical Information System (GIS) during execution of contract through the appointed contractors.
Through this plan of J&K Power Development Department, the Government aims to achieve the goal of 100 percent rural electrification in Jammu and Kashmir for overall economic development of the State.
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