Chhattisgarh to regain power surplus state status: Vishnu Deo Sai
Team News Riveting
Raipur, July 10
Union Minister of Power and Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal said the Centre would provide all necessary assistance to Chhattisgarh for developing power and housing infrastructure in the state.
The Union Minister, who reached Raipur to review the work of his departments going on in state, said Chhattisgarh would develop rapidly with better coordination between the state and central government. “Full cooperation will be given by the Government of India to fulfill all the requirements related to electricity and housing in Chhattisgarh,” he said, adding that many reformist steps are being taken in the country under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Works are being done in accordance with the aspirations of the people.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao, Union Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs Tokhan Sahu and Chief Secretary Amitabh Jain were present in the meeting.
Manohar Lal informed that many subsidy schemes are being run by the Central Government to provide cheap and adequate electricity to the people. There are also many schemes to promote solar energy. He asked the state government to make full use of all the funds and grants being given by the Government of India. The faster the work is done in the state, the faster the amount will be released by the Government of India, he said.
The Union Minister assured that there will be no constrains from the Central Government regarding the development schemes in the state. Both will work in better coordination, he said.
Manohar Lal suggested that the 100 buses received by Raipur under Clean City can also be used to run between Naya Raipur and Raipur. He reviewed the work being done to reduce line-loss under the Electricity Department, installation of smart meters, electrification in special backward tribal areas and availability of coal for power generation.
He also evaluated the works of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, PM Swanidhi, Amrit Mission, Swachh Bharat Mission, PM e-Bus Service, Smart City Mission and National Urban Development Mission under housing and urban works. He assured to provide adequate funds for these schemes.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai thanked Union Minister Manohar Lal and said that within a month of taking charge, he was reviewing the development works here. His cooperation will help in accelerating the pace of development in the state. He said that work is being done rapidly in the state to increase power generation and Chhattisgarh will soon regain the status of ‘Power Surplus State’.
He told the Union Minister that in the last six months, there has been improvement in the availability of electricity for farmers and small workers in the state. Farmers are being given discounts in electricity bills up to six thousand units annually in irrigation pumps up to three HP and up to seven and a half thousand units in pumps of three to five HP.
The Chief Minister requested the Union Minister to approve on priority basis 19 thousand 906 houses pending for approval under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) and about 50 thousand houses with revised central share to the state in accordance with the applications collected in Vikasit Bharat Sankalp Yatra. He expressed hope that today’s meeting will give new impetus to energy and urban development in the state.
