"Power linkages" for total rural electrification in Assam by 2012

Guwahati, Nov 15 (UNI) Assam was in process for getting 'power linkages' for its ambitious plan of total rural electrification programme by 2012, state Power Minister Pradyut Bordoloi informed the state Assembly today.

Replying to an oral question by Opposition AGP MLA Dr Alaka Sarma, Mr Bordoloi said rural electrification work has effectively commenced in the three districts of Tinsukia, Goalpara and Cachar under the Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Rural Electrification.

He said six districts are yet to get Centre's approval for implementation of the Scheme and central electricity authority has completed survey work in all the 25,000 census villages of the state to calculate the total demand by 2012.

The current electricity demand is 850 MW in the state, which would go up to 1600 MW by 2012, he added.

Mr Bordoloi informed that the state government had set 2009 as the deadline for providing electricity in all villages and by 2012, in all households.

He also informed that several power generation projects were in the pipeline and the government was in talks for power linkages from outside the state to meet the demand.

Elaborating on the point of power linkages, Mr Bordoloi said the government would buy power from other projects in the neighbouring states, including the ONGC project in Tripura, Lower Subansiri project, Kameng and Kahalgaon projects.

To another question submitted in the House today, the Power minister informed that the state had power generating capacity from hydel projects up to 541 MW. Of these, 102 MW was being generated through two projects, the 100 MW Karbi Langpi project and 2 MW Bordikharu project, which was not working due to technical problems.

He further informed that 1515 villages had been completed electrified in the state, 12941 villages partially and 4061 villages had been the electricity supply cut off due to disruption of cables following natural calamities. A total of 6603 villages were yet to get electricity.

UNI