Rural electrification picking pace in Khammam circle.

After a considerable delay, the implementation of the Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY) - the ambitious rural electrification scheme launched by the BJP-led Central government in 2015 -appears to be picking up steam in Khammam circle.

Northern Power Distribution Company of Telangana Limited (NPDCL), the nodal agency for implementation of the Centre’s flagship DDUGJY, has drawn up an action plan to implement the scheme in its five circles, including Khammam circle.

Khammam circle comprising four divisions - Khammam, Sattupalli, Kothagudem and Bhadrachalam -is presently serving 9.42 lakh consumers in both Khammam and Bhadradri-Kothagudem districts as well as a few mandals in Mahabubabad district.

The action plan envisages releasing new electricity connections to below poverty line (BPL) households in rural areas and strengthening the sub-transmission and distribution network at an estimated cost of ₹ 123.34 crore, NPDCL sources said.

The NPDCL has embarked on an ambitious task of providing power supply to a little over 1.26 lakh BPL households, construction of 38 new 33/11 KV sub-stations, erection of 129 km of 33 KV transmission line and 206 km of 11 KV line, erection of 2736 single phase distribution transformers and 58 three phase DTRs in the five circles under its jurisdiction.

Three new electricity sub-stations have been sanctioned to Khammam circle under the DDUGJY.

The reported delay in sanction of new electricity connections to the BPL households under the scheme drew flak from various tribal organisations in both Khammam and Bhadradri-Kothagudem districts.

New connections continue to elude poor tribal families in several habitations in Khammam as well as Bhadradri-Kothagudem districts even more than one-and-a-half years after the launch of the DDUGJY, deplored Bukya Veerabhadram, general secretary, Girijana Sangham, Khammam district.

Several poor families residing at Kotha Medapalli under Repallewada gram panchayat in Enkoor mandal are yet to get electricity supply, the tribal leader pointed out.

He demanded expeditious implementation of the DDUGJY to provide electricity to all the BPL households in the four divisions under Khammam circle.

THE HINDU