Guwahati, Dec 3 (FN Agency) Union Minister for Power and New and Renewable Energy R K Singh today said that the power scenario in the North East region has improved tremendously in the last 3 to 4 years and almost all the states in the region have managed to revamped their power system. Mr Singh, held a review meeting with the Power Ministers and concerned officers of North Eastern states in Guwahati today to discuss the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme. The Central Government has approved a Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme- a Reforms-based and Results-linked Scheme with an outlay of Rs.3,03,758 crore over a period of five years from FY 2021-22 to FY 2025-26 with the objective to improve the quality, reliability and affordability of power supply to consumers through a financially sustainable and operationally efficient distribution sector.
Mr Singh in his address said that power is the key to development and a country can’t develop until and unless it has a seamless power supply. He further said that power is the most crucial element when it comes to the establishment of industries which is the core factor in a nation’s progress. “Power sector has witnessed tremendous growth over the past few years in the areas of generation, transmission and distribution and the objective is to give 24×7 power supply to every household in the rural and urban areas of the country and to make India a world leader in power production,” he said. The minister informed that the availability of power in the country including North East has gone up to an average of around 21 hours per day in rural areas and 23 hours in urban areas.
Talking about the Revamped Distribution Scheme, Mr Singh said that this scheme will help to reduce the losses. He underlined that the increasing demand for electricity has necessitated the strengthening and modernization of the distribution infrastructure. The minister further added that Implementation of the Scheme would lead to consumer empowerment by way of prepaid smart metering. The scheme provides financial support for Prepaid Smart Metering & System Metering and up-gradation of the Distribution Infrastructure, the minister added.