All Rajasthan villages to get 24 hrs power supply by 2008

Jaipur, Nov 5 (UNI) The Rajasthan Government has set a target to make Rajasthan self-reliant in power sector, increasing power generation capacity by 2060MW and providing 24 hour power supply to all 38,000 villages by end of 2008, Minister of State for Energy Gajendra Singh Khimsar said.

Addressing a press conference here today Mr Khimsar said that present Vasundhara Raje Government in the state had accorded higher priority to aim of achieving self reliance in power sector and implemented an ambitious plan of enhancing the power generation capacity of the state by 3300MW by the end of its five year term.

He said that the generation capacity had already achieved an increase of 1240 MW during the four year term.

He said that the total investment in the power sector in Rajasthan during the present government's five year term would be around Rs 60,000 crore. Of this investment Rs 35,000 crore would be incurred for enhancement of power generation capacity.

The minister said that presently domestic consumers in 14,354 villages were getting 24 hours uninterrupted power supply and by the end of 2008 all 38,000 villages would get around the clock power supply. Four years ago during the previous Ashok Gehlot Government only 400 villages in the state were getting 24 hour power supply he added.

Mr Khimsar said that it was the matter of great satisfaction for his government that there was no power cut in the state on any of the categories of consumers since last year.

UNI