Every home in Maharashtra to be electrified in 3 years

There is no power shoratge in Maharashtra and rather the state is power surplus. With adding more generation capacities in next three years, the state would be in position to supply 24x7 power to 255 cities.

However, there is a catch to it. Cities which have less than 30% electricity dirstibution loss would qualify for the 24/7 scheme.

Energy minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule made an announcement in this regard in Mumbai on Tuesday rolling out state's ambitious power policy "Integrated Power Development Scheme" worth Rs2,405 crore.

"The scehme aims to modernize the power distribution infrastructure in the cities, cut the distribution losses, using effieicent meters, conducting energy audits to identify the lapses and setting up solar projects. Centre is sharing 60% burden in the scheme, state would spend 10% and rest would be raised from loan," clarified the minister.

He added: "Moreover, all homes in Maharashtra would be provided power in next three years, including conventional and non-conventional energy both."

Over Rs2,152 crore would be spent on this ambitious project which was rolled out by the state on Tuesday after a green signal from the cabinet.

Over 19 lakh homes in the state are yet to get electricity connection 68 years after independence. Most of them live in tribal and hilly areas where lack of power has also compromised the overall development.

"For as many as 12 lakh families we would be laying power cables. For rest seven lakh, most of which fall in tribal areas like Melghat, solar plants would be set-up to make things easy and cost-effective," said Bawankule.