50 lakh homes in Bihar to be provided free power connection by 2018

With the aim of lighting up each and every household in the state, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday launched his ambitious “Har ghar bijli lagatar” scheme, under which about 50 lakh homes in Bihar will be provided free electricity connection by 2018.

“Har ghar bijli lagatar” was the last among the seven resolves of Nitish Kumar to be implemented before he completes his first year in office on November 20.

Inaugurating the scheme, Kumar said, “The per capita power consumption in Bihar has increased from 70 units in 2005 to 258 units at present. The peak demand also upped from 700MW to 3,769MW during the same period. We are fulfilling our promise of bettering power situation in the state.” He, however, rued the treatment meted to Bihar by the Centre saying the state was not getting optimum power from the central quota.

The newly launched scheme will cover Bihar’s rural above poverty line (APL) families, about 50% of whom do not have power connectivity, as per a survey being conducted by the state energy department for the implementation of the project. The BPL families are already covered under Centre’s Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana.

While the new connection will be free, the consumer will have to pay the electricity bill based on the meter reading as usual. In case anyone does not want to take a power connection, he or she will have to give in writing, the reason for the same.

It may be mentioned the PM Narendra Modi has also committed for round-the-clock power for all in the next few years.