5 Naxal-hit Chhattisgarh dists will have to wait for power

RGREY aims to provide electricity to all rural households. The programme was to be implemented by central public sector undertakings, which have already submitted detailed project reports to the Rural Electrification Corporation (REC).

“The Power Ministry has informed us that the work for the five tribal districts entailed high costs to the tune of about Rs 843 crore and hence they have been earmarked for phase II of the eleventh plan period,” said Ranjan. “The Home And Rural Development Ministries have also favoured implementation of these projects on priority basis in the Naxalite areas.”

However, Ranjan said the Power Ministry has already moved a proposal, seeking concurrence of the Planning Commission and Finance Ministry for shifting the projects from phase-II to phase-I of the eleventh plan.

“The CSEB has also sent a letter to the Planning Commission Deputy Chairman, seeking early sanction of RGREY projects in tribal and Naxalite affected districts,” Ranjan said. “We have also informed them that the state office of PGCIL had to be closed down because of the delay in sanction.”