RVEP programme covered 254 villages in 2007-08

New Delhi, Nov 30 (UNI) Minister of State for New and Renewable Energy Vilas Muttemwar today informed the Lok Sabha that in the current financial year upto October 31, the Remote Village Electrification Programme (RVEP) had covered 254 villages spread over 17 states.

Replying to a question, he said the largest number of 203 projects were taken up in Assam, followed by Chhattisgarh with 36 projects.

He said the Ministry was implementing the RVEP for providing basic facilities of lighting/electricity in remote, unelectrified census villages and remote unelectrified hamlets of electrified census villages, where grid connectivity was neither feasible nor cost effective. Such facilities were provided through various renewable energy sources which may be solar or biogas energy.

No state-wise allocation of targets was made the Programme and projects were provided financial support on a case to case basis of proposals received from the State Governments.

He said the Ministry aimed at setting up of about one lakh biogas plants in different states during 2007-08. In addition, a scheme for setting up biogas-based power generation systems for meeting unmet demand of electricity in electrified villages was also under implementation.

The house also witnessed a slanging match between the RJD and JD(U) members when RJD member Ram Kripal Yadav blamed the present Bihar Government ''for its failure'' to send fresh proposals for setting up of RVEP projects to cover areas in the State which were not connected with the grid electricity system.

UNI