Other States - Rajasthan   

Rajasthan power reforms model for many

Special Correspondent

JAIPUR: The neighbouring States are reportedly taking interest in Rajasthan’s power sector reforms after coming to know about steps taken by the State’s electricity companies towards self-sufficiency in production, transmission and distribution during the Chief Ministers conference on power sector in Delhi last week. The areas, which have elicited interest from the neighbourhood, include feeder improvement, rural electrification and agricultural connections.

In a letter to Rajasthan’s Energy Secretary Yaduvendra Mathur, Maha Vitran, Maharashtra’s power distribution company, sought details about the power reforms carried out by the State in the recent years. It also asked for the details of the speech made by Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje at the conference on June 28. During the conference itself many Ministers and senior functionaries from different States had evinced interest in the reforms carried out by Rajasthan.

At the conference Ms.Raje had talked about the ambitious Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Vijay Jyoti Feeder improvement campaign and the success the State had achieved in reducing transmission losses by 15 per cent in two years. The reduction in T&D was 5 per cent in the year 2006-07. The national average in reduction in power losses is said to be a mere one per cent.

Ms.Raje said 4000 villages, which reported less than 15 per cent losses, were being provided 24 hours electricity. Many States have reportedly expressed their keenness to adopt this scheme. The State Government’s plan is to change all 8,000 feeders by June 2008 spending an amount of Rs.5, 000 crores. This would reportedly help to provide 24 hours power supply to all the villages in the State.

Rajasthan, which has kept aside 37 per cent of its plan allocation to the power sector giving it top priority, also proposes to spend Rs.1, 000 crores for rural electrification in all the 32 districts. The Chief Minister has sought clearance from the Centre for the district schemes.

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