Urban electrification progresses as rural scheme fails

Guwahati, Oct 28 (UNI) The Centre's flagship rural electrification scheme has failed to make an impact in North East, though the plan for the urban areas has been relatively successful.

Disclosing this at a press meet here today, Union Power Secretary R V Shahi said progress of the Accelerated Power Development Reform Programme(APDRP) had been satisfactory in other NE states, except Arunachal Pradesh.

He said, ''About 75 per cent work under the APDRP in Asom is complete and the rest will be over by March next. However, progress has been nil in Arunachal.'' He informed that the Central government provided 90 per cent funds for the APDRP in NE, while in other states, the Centre's share was only 50 per cent.

However, the implementation of the 'Rajiv Gandhi Gramin Vidyutikaran Yojana' had been poor in the region.

The Union power secretary said the progress in rural electrification was not "good" and the National Grid would extend help to speed up rural electrification.

UNI SG JYN AB 1807