MP govt mulling 25 units free power to BPL families

Bhopal, July 26 (UNI) The Madhya Pradesh government is contemplating supply of upto 25 units free power to BPL families, Energy Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya informed the Assembly today.

Replying to a discussion on the State Electricity Board's Annual Report 2004-05, he claimed, ''over the past three years of BJP tenure, generation capacity was enhanced by 2,400 MW while transmission and distribution losses were brought down from 7.9 to 5 per cent. By 2008, the state will be self-sufficient in power.'' The government has prepared a programme for investment of Rs 9,713 crore for the transmission and distribution system. Besides, schemes to the tune of Rs 2,600 crore -- under the Rajiv Gandhi Rural Electrification Scheme -- were forwarded to the Centre.

''In the rabi season, farmers will receive eight-hour three-phase supply. Like urban areas, a spot-billing system is envisaged in rural areas,'' the Minister added.

UNI