August 8, 2016
Derek O’Brien asks a question on electrification during Question Hour in Rajya Sabha
Will the Minister of POWER be pleased to state:
(a) the number and proportion of households, rural and urban, that have a working electricity connection since 2013, State-wise and year-wise;
(b) the number and proportion of these households that have 24-hour supply of electricity; and
(c) the details of steps taken by Government to provide 24-hour electricity to all households?
Supplementary Questions
- According to a recent report by the Central Electricity Authority, the country is expected to become ‘power surplus’ in 2016-17. As per the report, Odisha, Mizoram and Tripura, which are expected to be power surplus in 2016-17. But as of May 2016, the percentage of un-electrified rural households varied 22 and 52 per cent.
Almost every village (100%) in West Bengal is electrified with 93% households having access to electricity. It is the best performing State in terms of access to power.
What steps are being taken to assess the real demand for electricity, especially in rural households and how is this real demand going to met?
- For the last two or three years, West Bengal has been a power surplus state, and continues to be power surplus even with rising industrial and domestic demand.
Will the Centre replicate the successful model implemented in Bengal and will the efforts of the State Government to transfer power to other States (and also neighbouring countries such as Bhutan) be supplemented by the Centre?
