‘32.77 L households electrified in UP during last one year’

LUCKNOW: A record number of 32.77 lakh households were electrified in UP, spurring the rural power demand to a new high at 22.93% during last one year, state energy minister Srikant Sharma revealed here on Sunday.

Talking to media persons on the eve of the Yogi Adityanath government competing one year, he said one of the hallmarks of UP’s power sector during last one year was the remarkable increase in the household electrification, a strong commitment envisaged under ‘Power for All’ initiative.

“Starting with an ambitious target of 37.55 lakh households to be electrified in the financial year 2018, a record number of 32.77 lakh households – representing 87.3% of the estimated target – has already been electrified as of March 6, 2018. The remaining portion of the target is expected to be achieved by March 31, 2018,” he claimed.

He said around 1.75 crore households, mostly rural, were without electricity connections and this, he said, was a poor reflection of previous governments.

“Similarly, a record number of 60,000 hamlets are expected to be electrified in 2018 representing a growth of 155% over 2017. As many as 57,036 hamlets have already been electrified, which is 95% of the envisaged target (60,000),” said the minister.

Sharma said UP expected to mobilise ₹4,000 crore funds from the central government in the coming financial year and this, he said, was an increase of 42% as compared to the previous year.

“There has been 50.3% growth in overall transmission capacity addition while 174 new 33/11 kv sub stations were energised and another 126 are proposed to be set up during the next fiscal,” added the minister.