Power to all villages by 2009: Govt

The government on Sunday said power reforms in the country would be made rural-centric to achieve electrification of all villages by 2009.

Wherever grid power is not possible, distributed generation solution would be encouraged, Union Power Minister P M Sayeed said at Parli, Maharashtra at the opening ceremony of the Maharashtra State Electricity Board's new power unit.

"The Indian power system is currently going through a phase of transition. The government is sure that reforms and changes will be effected without putting any burden on the common man," he said.

Sayeed also said that a Rs 17,000 crore scheme has been prepared by the power ministry for building rural electricity
infrastructure. He added it was the reponsibility of all stake holders to fulfill the 'Power for all by 2012' vision.

The new 250 MW unit, part of the existing Parli Project, is coal-based and will be completed by July 2006 at a total cost of Rs 1,053 crore.

The minister also inaugurated the 220 KV Harangul Power Station in Latur district of Maharashtra.

More Reports From: Maharashtra