SHILLONG: Meghalaya State Government has a daunting task ahead of electrifying 56000 households in the state under the Pradhan Mantri Shaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana — Saubhagya scheme before May 5.
Speaking to media persons after launching the scheme here on Friday, Union MoS (Independent Charge Power, etc) R K Singh said that the actual target is to complete the rural electrification within December 31st this year but the they have set a target of May 5 to complete electrification in those villages where the portion of the weaker section is more than 50 per cent.
Admitting that it is a stiff target for Meghalaya, he , however, expressed confidence that Meghalaya would achieve the target since states which have even more difficult topography than Meghalaya are already working to complete the target.
He also informed that there were altogether 14 villages in Meghalaya which were yet to be electrified and the target would be achieved before April 30 though the actual target for completion of rural electrification is May 11.
On the other hand, Chief Minister, Conrad Sangma expressed confidence that Meghalaya would achieve the target.
“ It is our duty not only towards the Union Government but towards the people of the state as well and we are already working on that line,”Sangma told reporters.
Earlier, while addressing a function to launch the scheme in the state, R K Singh said that Meghalaya now had new breed of politicians who wanted to do something for the state.
Stating that the incumbent NDA Government is different from the previous Government, he added that no Government earlier ever about electrification of households in the country.
“We have a Government now at the Centre which is keen to work for development,” he said.
Chief Minister, Conrad Sangma who was present in the programme as the chief guest said that there was a need to ensure electrification was done even in many CHCs, PHCs and 40 per cent of the schools in rural areas of the state which did not have electricity by way of solar power.
Stating that the Government is working towards producing large amount of renewable energy in the state, Sangma made a clarion call for more efficient technology for power consumption.