Maoist violence affects rural electrification in four states

New Delhi: Maoist violence in some districts of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha and Bihar has impeded the progress of rural electrification, the Centre admitted in the Lok Sabha today.

Power Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said while progress of rural electrification work in the country under Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojna (rural electrification scheme) is “generally satisfactory, the progress in some states is “comparatively slow” due to law and order and Maoist violence, and issues related to forest clearance.[caption id=“attachment_770419” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Union Power Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia. AFP[/caption]

He said in a written reply that delays in land acquisition, poor upstream rural electricity infrastructure, particularly in Jharkhand, and difficult terrain especially in the North East were some other reasons which slowed down the process of rural electrification.

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“During 10th and 11th Five Year Plan, 648 projects have been sanctioned covering electrification of 1,12,975 un-electrified villages, intensive electrification of 3,88,740 partially electrified villages and release of free electricity connections to 2.77 crore BPL households in the country,” he said amid din over Telangana and other issues.

PTI