NEW DELHI: The massive target of electrification with round-the-clock power supply has come as a huge challenge for the Centre as it has only little more than a year left for its implementation.
Concerned over the slow progress of power- and electricity-related schemes, the Union Ministry of Power has called a high-level meeting on December 7 of state power ministers and officials to fast-track its implementation.
Officials of the ministry said the success of these schemes depends on the cooperation of states and other agencies, including public sector units.
Many flagship schemes of the Narendra Modi government have been initiated by the Ministry of Power to streamline electrification and power distribution in the country. While Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY) and Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS) were launched earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Saubhagya Scheme in September to acheieve 100 per cent free electrification of over 3 crore households across the country.
Before this, the focus of electrification had been on village electrification through creation of village electricity infrastructure for all households and providing free electricity to poor household families in rural areas. Four lakh houses have been electrified.