Electrification work in nearly one-third of 18,452 villages completed, says Piyush Goyal

The Centre has completed the electrification work in nearly one-third of 18,452 unelectrified villages, Power Minister Piyush Goyal said on Friday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced in his Independence Day speech last year that all 18,452 unelectrified villages will get electricity within 1,000 days.

The Centre has decided to provide power to 18,452 villages by May 1, 2018.

"We have electrified 5,026 villages. Electrification of 898 villages is in progress while 1,415 villages are under energisation. Today, one-third of the overall task of electrifying 18,452 villages has been achieved," Goyal told reporters.

Goyal said that electrification works in these villages faced several challenges as most of the areas were naxal-hit, and also consist of hilly terrain and dense forestation.

The minister explained that out of the 2,21,424 milestones set for electrification of these villages, 72,799 are achieved which is roughly 33% indicating that one-third of task undertaken has been completed.