GUWAHATI, April 10 - The State government will electrify all the villages in the State by June 30, 2017. Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has directed the power department to meet the deadline so that all the un-electrified villages can have access to electricity without fail, said an official press release.
Chairing a high level meeting of all wings of the power department in the conference room of his office at Janata Bhawan this evening, Sonowal directed the power department to connect un-electrified villages under the Deen Dayal Upadhaya Gram Jyoti Yojana by June 30.
The meeting, which decided on a broad roadmap of the power department for the next five years, also decided to use pre-paid meters across Assam and a detailed project report is to be prepared very soon for the same. A unique identification number will also be generated for state-of-the art technological solutions for all consumers for their problems.
Sonowal also said that the char areas of Assam, which have long been considered as a liability, will henceforth change the face and solar power parks will be set in those areas to make Assam a solar power hub.
The meeting also decided to carry out a feasibility study and accordingly prepare a roadmap to push forward the project. Sonowal also directed revitalisation of the flood monitoring system around the 3.6 lakh hectare char areas in the State.
The meeting decided to augment dedicated feeders for consumers and finalise a policy to reduce technical and commercial loss, which at present is around 30 per cent.
Moreover, the meeting decided to enhance the peak hour handling capacity to cater to growing power demand. At present the peak hour handling capacity of transmission line is 1628 MW. Besides, the meeting took note of the progress of the Lower Kopili Hydro Electric Project and the Amguri and Chandrapur solar projects with an installed capacity of 69 MW and 30 MW respectively and the Namrup Replacement Power Project-I with an installed capacity of 100 MW.
The meeting also decided to provide LED bulbs to all households for economical use of power in the State.
The CM further directed the power department to make inroads for creating dynamic, energetic and young contractors for construction works in the State so that the State does not have to depend on contractors from other states. He also mooted the idea of honouring contractors for good performance.
The meeting also decided to augment the capacity of the APDCL and empower it with required infrastructural support.
Minister of State for Power Pallab Lochan Das, Chief Secretary VK Pipersenia, Additional Chief Secretaries Ravi Capoor, Rajiv Bora, VB Pyarelal, Commissioner and Secretary to Chief Minister Sanjay Lohiya, Commissioner and Secretary to Finance Dr Ravi Kota and a host senior officers from the power department were present at the meeting, the press release said.
