Electric connection for every house within 6 years: Shinde

Sriganganagar, Jan 9 (UNI) Union Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde has promised to try and provide electric connection for every house in India over the next six years, asserting that government has already started work on this project.

While talking to reporters here today, Mr Shinde said all those small villages and bastis would be included in the new scheme, which were excluded in the earlier schemes. He promised electircity connection to all houses by 2009.

Mr Shinde informed that new projects have been planned to produce more electricity under Ultra Electricity Production plan and the government is consulting power companies in this regard.

The ultra electricity production plan will enable the companies to provide electricity at cheaper rates. Presently the electricity rates are Rs three per unit which will come down to Rs 1.19 paise once the project takes off.

Mr Shinde said country needs 600 Mw of power per hour but the goverment hopes to provide 1000 MW power every hour very soon. All states have been given targets to accomplish this level.

He said the power ministry is monitoring the production from the power units in each state and also analysing the delays in the taking off of the projects.

Mr Shinde was here to lay the foundation stone of the sixth unit of Suratgarh thermal power plant here. He appreciated the BJP government for progress in electricity generation.

Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje , who was present on the occasion demanded that coal be made available at cheaper rates for Kota and Suratgarh thermal power plants.

UNI