Raipur, 29 June 2021. Chief Minister Mr. Bhupesh Baghel has directed officials concerned to chalk out action plan for laying electricity lines on the banks of rivers in forest areas to provide irrigation facility to the farmers as soon as possible. He said that DMF funds should be utilized for the extension of electricity lines on the banks of rivers in the aspirational districts of the state, especially in Bastar, Sarguja and Korba districts. Chief Minister Mr. Baghel was reviewing the works of the Energy Department organized at his residence office today.
Chief Minister said that the use of riverwater would stop exploitation of groundwater, and also, the use of surface water would reduce power consumption. He said that the work of laying electricity lines on the banks of river Indravati in Bastar, Shabari river in Sukma, Hasdeo river in Korba, Dantewada should be done on priority and a proper action plan should be prepared after consultation with the collectors of these districts. In order to provide irrigation facility to the farmers in forest areas where electricity supply is not available, Chief Minister has given instructions to provide solar pumps under Saur Sujala Yojana. Chief Secretary Mr. Amitabh Jain, Additional Chief Secretary Mr. Subrat Sahu, Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. Siddharth Komal Singh Pardeshi, Special Secretary Energy and Chairman of Chhattisgarh Power Companies Mr. Ankit Anand and officers of power companies were present in the meeting.
Chief Minister has directed the officials concerned to expedite the irrigation pump electrification work. It is to be noted that during the budget session 2021, Chief Minister Mr. Baghel had announced electrification of 35 thousand 161 irrigation pumps. In the meeting, Special Secretary, Electricity Department, Mr. Ankit Anand informed that so far, electricity connections have been provided for 11 thousand 661 irrigation pumps, and energizing of remaining 23 thousand 500 irrigation pumps is also in progress. This work is targeted to be completed by the end of November. During the review of Chief Minister Infrastructure Development Scheme, it was informed that in the next three years under the scheme, 112 new sub-stations of 33/11 KV capacity would be constructed at the cost of Rs.817 crore, will be set up, the capacity of 166 power transformers will be expanded, 3020 KM 33 KV line and 1715 km 11 KV line will be extended, construction of two sub-stations at Andhiarkhor and Amadand in Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi district will be completed by August 2021 and the construction of power sub-station at Katghori in Koriya district will be completed by December. It was informed in the meeting that 129 people have been given compassionate appointment in power companies, and various works including resolving the low voltage problem, half electricity bill scheme, employment to the local people and others were reviewed.
In the meeting, Chief Minister said that in order to provide irrigation facilities to the farmers in forest areas, District Collectors concerned have been given targets to carry out bore mining in the farmers’ fields through DMF. Similarly, at the places where tree plantation is proposed, bore mining work should be sanctioned under DMF and solar pumps should be made available. He said that solar community irrigation scheme should be linked with traditional ponds, and for the places with no ponds, construction of ponds should be done under MGNREGA. Chief Minister said that DMF should be utilized for installation of solar high mast in villages, towns and urban bodies. Similarly, MLA fund can also be used for installation of solar mast lights. He said in the meeting that progress of the works including filling of ponds located near rivers and Anicuts using solar pumps, setting up of biogas plant, solar power plant, solar drinking water scheme, works approved under Jal Jeevan Mission, and various research works under Bio Fuel Development Authority should be reviewed.
It was informed in the meeting that more than 6 lakh 70 thousand electricity consumers are using the Mor Bijli app created by CSPDCL for consumer service. Google has given a 4.4 star rating to Mor Bijli app because of its growing popularity. Through this app, more than 2 lakh 82 thousand complaints of power shutdown have been resolved from the month of November till now, while more than 8 lakh 70 thousand electricity bills have been paid through the app.
