Bhubaneswar; In order to ensure “Electricity To All”, the State Government has decided to spend Rs 569.58 crore under its flagship scheme Biju Gram Jyoti Yojana (BGJY) during next three years from the current financial year.
The State Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC) headed by Finance Principal Secretary Vishal Kumar Dev has approved the proposal of the Department of Energy in this regard during its meeting held recently.
Notably, the State Government launched its flagship scheme Biju Gram Jyoti Yojana in 2007-08 for electrification of habitations having less than 100 population including BPL households in those habitations which are not covered under the erstwhile Rajiv Gandhi Gramin Vidyutkaran Yojana (RGGVY).
Initially there was a target to cover 10,000 habitations under the scheme, which have already been achieved. Later, the scheme was extended to provide electricity connection to un-electrified schools, Anganwadi Centres, other institutions and households.
The Energy Department has set a target to connect over 2.80 lakh households under the scheme during three years—2023-24, 2024-25, and 2025-26 with a cost of Rs 569.58 crore.
Of which, highest Rs 197.30 crore has been earmarked for Tata Power South Odisha Distribution Ltd (TPSODL), while Rs 151.79 crore to be spent in Tata Power North Odisha Distribution Ltd (TPNODL).
Similarly, the Department has decided to make an expenditure of Rs 148.9 crore under the scheme in Tata Power Western Odisha Distribution Ltd (TPWODL) area and Rs 71.58 crore in Tata Power Central Odisha Distribution Ltd (TPCODL).
During the EFC meeting it was appraised that extended BGJY scheme is meant to electrify the un-electrified habitations/households as identified in the survey of the rural areas of the State during Year 2021. Also left out schools, AWCs & other identified facilities are covered under BGJY.
DISCOMs were instructed to execute the infrastructure projects under BGJY in timely manner so as to achieve 100 per cent household electrification. Upon completion, the Scheme will be audited through an independent agency.
Interest accrued on parking of the fund in bank accounts by the implementing agencies is to be deposited in State exchequer, sources said.
Apart from the above proposal, the EFC has also accorded its nod for revision of Odisha Renewable Energy Development Fund (OREDF) to Rs 222. 12 crore in 5 years.
The Odisha Renewable Energy Policy, 2022 was released during FY 2022-23 and GRIDCO is notified as State Nodal Agency for implementation of the Policy.
In order to provide VGF to RE projects for the State requirements and support to GRIDCO for implementation of OREP, budgetary support of Rs 501 crore was initially proposed under Odisha Renewable Energy Development Fund.
However, during a meeting under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary in July 2023, it was decided to re-calibrate the budgetary provisions under OREDF as per actual need as well as to avoid huge subsidies/grants. Accordingly, the proposal has been modified with a funding of Rs 222.12 crore during FY 2023-24 to FY 2027-28.
Besides, it was decided that a RE Research Institute be set up as a Center of Excellence in one of the existing technical institutes with the prime objective of capacity building of State Government officials and RE ecosystem development, the source said.