The Hindu : New Delhi News : Power for all by 2012

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Saturday, Jan 05, 2008
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New Delhi

Power for all by 2012

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The Union Cabinet on Thursday gave its nod for the continuation of the Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY) in the XI Plan with the promise of providing electricity to all rural households by the end of this Five Year Plan.

As per the proposal cleared by the Cabinet, 1.15 lakh villages will be electrified and 2.34 households provided connections by 2009. The rest of the un-electrified villages will be electrified and all rural households provided access to electricity by 2012.

Also, the Cabinet approved the continuation of the 20-year-old helicopter service for inter-island communication in Lakshadweep for another five years till March 31, 2012.

The Cabinet accepted the proposal to meet the cost of hiring/chartering helicopters from Pawan Hans Helicopters Ltd. by providing subsidy to the tune of Rs. 1310.31 lakhs annually by the administration of the Union Territory.

Loan liability waived

The restructuring of the State Farms Corporation of India Ltd. (SFCI) has been approved by the Cabinet. This would entail conversion of loans amounting to Rs. 58.74 crore and outstanding interest of Rs. 65.68 crore as on March 31, 2007, into equity, setting off the accumulated losses of Rs. 17.12 crore against the equity capital of SFCI, and grant of Rs. 21.21 crore for settlement of liabilities of the Corporation relating to the Employees Provident Fund.

The loan liability of the erstwhile Union Territory of Goa, Daman & Diu to the tune of Rs. 239.22 crore has been waived along with the interest accrued. This has been a matter awaiting decision since 1998-99 after the enactment of the Goa, Daman & Diu Reorganisation Act.

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