Maharashtra to implement 'Deendayal Upadhyaya Gramjyoti' scheme

MUMBAI: Maharashtra Cabinet today gave its consent to implement the Centre's 'Deendayal Upadhyaya Gramjyoti Yojana' in a bid to strengthen rural electrification network and also the Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS) for cities.

"The scheme for strengthening the rural electrification will benefit 12 lakh out of the 19 lakh families, where electricity has not reached as yet," Energy Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule told reporters after the weekly cabinet meeting here.

He said the scheme for rural areas would ensure end of the load-shedding regimen as the feeders for agricultural and domestic users would be separated.

The minister said the scheme would be implemented in 33 districts in the next three years, where 37 detailed project reports worth Rs 2,152.68 crore have been cleared.

The IPDS aims at ensuring 24x7 power supply and would cover 255 urban centres across the State with the expense of Rs 2405.08 crore, the minister said, adding that work on both the schemes would start post monsoon season.