BHAWANIPATNA: Lack of coordination between implementing agencies and difficult terrains have posed hurdles for implementation of Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Bidyutkaran Yojana (RGGBY) and Biju Gram Jyoti Yojana (BGYJ) in Kalahandi. While the RGGBY aims to electrify villages having more than 400 population, the BGYJ scheme will cover villages with less than 100 population.Sources said there are several villages in the forested areas which are difficult to reach and do not fulfil the population criterion. The officials concerned are unable to implement the schemes. This apart, the money allotted to each village under the schemes does not suffice due to heavy transportation charges. The Central Government had approved the RGGVY scheme in 2007-08 and the programme was launched in the district in 2008-09 with a target to complete the electrification work by March 2012.The NTPC - which is the implementing agency of RGGVY - had started building up infrastructure in 1,136 villages which are either unelectrified or de-electrified. So far, NTPC has completed work in 749 villages and asked the Wesco to carry out infrastructure inspection in these villages which is mandatory before electricity is supplied. The Wesco, however, has inspected just 388 villages till date as a result of which, the infrastructure that was set up by NTPC in the remaining villages is lying unused. Sources said there are more than 100 villages in Bengaon-Bijepur area of Lanjigarh block where transformers and grids have already been installed by NTPC, but Wesco is yet to inspect the works.Similarly in Thuamul-Rampur block, infrastructure has been laid in 231 villages but none of these villages has been inspected by Wesco. Besides, a recent survey by the district administration revealed that there are several other issues such as lack of clearance by the Forest department, distance factor and population criterion which are delaying the RGGVY scheme.Based on these factors, the NTPC has asked the district administration to delete 200 villages from the list of villages that would be electrified under RGGVY scheme. Those villages can be electrified through renewable energy sources like solar power. Similar is the fate of Biju Gram Jyoti Yojana. In 2006-07 and 2007-08, work under this scheme was taken up in 350 villages and for 2009-10 and 2010-11, 199 villages are to be electrified. While the Orissa Small Scale Industries Corporation is the implementing agency, an amount of ` 4.5 lakh has been allotted for a normal village and `6.5 lakh for a village in difficult terrain. However, in many of these villages, electrification is not possible as they are in remote areas and funds allocated are not sufficient for development of infrastructure for the purpose.
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