By Our Staff Reporter
Bhopal, Aug 17
Feeder separation work is progressing fast with the purpose of supplying quality and uninterrupted power for 24 hours to rural domestic consumers and eight hours for irrigation.
So far, 2069 feeders have been separated benefiting 10,740 villages. Maximum 474 feeders have been separated in Indore division followed by 400 in Ujjain division, 143 in Bhopal, 142 in Hoshangabad (Narmadapuram), 188 in Gwalior, 232 in Jabalpur, 171 in Rewa, 43 in Shahdol,57 in Chambal division and 171 feeders have been separated in Sagar division.
In all, 6,262 feeders are to be separated in the state. For this, loans worth Rs. 1721 crore have been availed from financial institution REC and Rs. 1944 crore from ADB. In all, 5,306 feeders will be separated under this scheme and 956 feeders under other schemes. A target has been set to separate 5,197 feeders till December 2012 and all the 6,262 feeders till March 2013.
It is noteworthy that village life will improve after completion of this scheme. Rural domestic consumers will start getting power for 24 hours. Activities of cottage industry and commercial activities will also intensify. Groundwater sources will also be properly tapped. Besides, functioning of electricity irrigation pumps will also improve since adequate voltage will be available as a result of reduction in technical losses in power distribution. Distribution companies’ revenue will also go up with the regular power supply to rural domestic consumers.
The first phase of the work is targeted to be completed till December 2012. For this, Rs. 1721 crore has been released to 23 districts. Besides survey, feeder separation work is also underway in all these districts.
Schemes under the second phase will be completed till March 2013. The ADB will provide Rs. 1840 crore loan, which is 80 percent of the project cost. For providing rest of 20 percent counter funding, the State Government has approved to provide Rs. 485 crore interest-free loan to power distribution companies.
