Vohra orders electrification of left-out homes by Dec 31

Srinagar, July 20: Governor N N Vohra sets December 31 as the deadline for the houses’ electrification that
the former coalition has failed to do by March 2018.

At present 3,88,000 households in the state are without electricity, relying on traditional means of lighting.
As per sources, the Governor, in a review meeting on power scenario earlier this week, asked for reasons
behind the delay in electrification of the left-out households.
“He was informed by the Power Secretary, Hirdesh Kumar, that nearly three lakh households haven’t been
covered yet. Governor subsequently directed the officers to prioritise the electrification of these households
under various centrally-sponsored schemes,” a source said.
They said the Chief Secretary, B V R Subrahmanyam, assured the Governor of 100% electrification of the
households in Kupwara and Baramulla before August 15.
Sources said 18,452 villages across India were to be electrified in 2015, of which 910, including 70 in Jammu
and Kashmir, are yet to be covered.
Official in the Power Development Department (PDD) said 42 of these 70 villages, comprising around 1.4
lakh households, were without electricity.
These villages fall in Gurez, Machil, and Keran areas.
“The un-electrified villages get three hours of power supply through generators. Government is paying for
purchasing of diesel to run these generators and provide three hour power supply to inhabitants,” he said.
The official said the government was also facing challenges in laying power lines and installing poles due to
rough terrain in far-flung areas.
“Government is expecting to make entire JK electrified by this year,” the official said.