Question: Consider the following statements:
(1) SAUBHAGYA scheme objective is to achieve universal household electrification to all remaining un-electrified households in rural and urban areas by 31st March, 2019.
(2) Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram JyotiYojana (DDUGJY) worked for objective that 100% villages across the country stands electrified.
(3) Power Grid Corporation of lndia Limited (POWERGRID) has been conferred with the Maharatna Status by the Government.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) Only(1)
(b) Only(2)
(c) Both (1) and (2)
(d) All the above
Answer:(d)
Related facts:
- The details of year-long achievements for Ministry of Power are as below :
Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana (SAUBHAGYA):
- Launched in September, 2017 with the objective to achieve universal household electrification by providing last mile connectivity and electricity connections to all remaining un-electrified households in rural and urban areas by 31st March, 2019.
- Scheme Outlay: Rs. 16320 Crore including GOI Grant of Rs. 12320 Crore. GOI Grant released: Rs. 5720 Crore. As on 31st March, 2019, all States reported electrification of all willing households under ‘Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har GharYojana’ (Saubhagya), except few households in LWE affected Bastar region of Chhattisgarh.
Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram JyotiYojana (DDUGJY):
- 100% villages across the country stands electrified as on 28thApril, 2018. Total Scheme Outlay is Rs.75893 Crore (DDUGJY: Rs. 43033 crore and RE Component: Rs.32860 Crore).
- Projects with total cost of Rs. 43486 crore have been sanctioned in 32 States/UTs.
Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS):
- Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS) was launched in the year 2014 with an Outlay of Rs. 32,612 crore for improving and augmenting the distribution and sub-transmission systems in Urban areas with a view to improve reliability.
- Under the scheme, till today, system strengthening of sub-transmission and distribution network has been in 371 circles. 560 additional urban Towns have been IT-enabled, and about 30,000 kms of HT/LT lines have been installed across 546 circles in the country.
- 820 new substations have been constructed, while more than 50,000 Distribution transformers have been installed.
- Under the older projects subsumed under IPDS, till now, 1287 towns have been IT enabled, and SCADA systems have been completed in 57 towns.
Smart Metering:
- In the current financial year, Ministry of Power has issued guidelines to all States to convert all existing consumer meters into Smart meters in prepaid mode.
- Operation of Smart meters in prepaid mode would allow consumers to pay as per their own financial convenience and electricity consumption requirements.
- EESL, a JV between CPSUs in the power sector, has been providing Smart metering services to various Utilities as per MOUs entered into with them.
Ujwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana (UDAY):
- Ujwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana (UDAY), a scheme for financial and operation turn around of Power Distribution Companies (DISCOMs) was launched by the Government for State owned Distribution Utilities on 20-11-2015 at a time when the outstanding debts and losses of the Distribution utilities had increased to levels that were adversely affecting the viability of the Power and Banking Sectors.
- The purpose of UDAY was to usher reforms across the Power and coal Sectors through competitive and cooperative federalism to pave the way for 24X7 affordable and reliable Power for all.
- UDAY scheme is now in final stages, with majority of states having completed 3 years at the end of FY19.
Hydro:
- 16% higher generation (120.7 BU) in 2019-20 (April ~ Nov.) from generation (103.9 BU) in 2018-19 (April ~ Nov.) Mangdechhu hydropower project (720 MW) in Bhutan commissioned in August 2019 and inaugurated by Prime Minister on 17.08.2019.
- Himachal Pradesh has also deferred free power, agreed for 50% reimbursement of State GST and for booking 1.5% LADF to any head other than project cost.
- One Nation-One Grid-One Frequency: Expansion of ISTS transmission lines (220 kV and above) by 14,546 km. Transformation capacity addition of ISTS network by 74,910 MVA. Inter-Regional Transfer capacity of addition of 5,700 MW
- Eight REMCs have been commissioned in the States of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamilnadu, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat and Southern Regional Load Despatch Centre and Western Regional Load Centre during 2019
- Power Grid Corporation of lndia Limited (POWERGRID) has been conferred with the coveted Maharatna Status by the Government of India on 23.10.201 9.
National Energy Conservation Awards and Painting Competition:
- Bureau of Energy Efficiency has been organizing school, state and national level painting competitions across the country every year. During 2019, over 84 lakhs students participated in these competitions and awards are to be given to the winners during the occasion of National Energy Conservation Day i.e. 14th December, 2019.
- North Eastern states: Over 1 crore LED bulbs, 93,900 LED tube lights and 3.65 lakh energy efficient fans distributed under UJALA scheme. Over 1 lakh LED street lights installed under SLNP.
- Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LEDs for All (UJALA): Over 36.10 crore LED bulbs, 71.61 lakh LED tube lights and 23.10 lakh energy efficient fans distributed across the country. This has resulted in estimated energy savings of 47 billion kWh per year with avoided peak demand of 9,590 MW.
Street Lighting National Programme (SLNP):
- Over 1 crore energy efficient LED streetlights have been installed across the country.
- This has resulted in estimated energy savings of 6.9 billion kWh per year with avoided peak demand of 1,152 MW, estimated GHG emission reduction of 4.76 million t CO2per year and estimated annual cost saving of INR 2,686 crore in electricity bills of Municipalities.
- Procurement process of 10,000 e-cars concluded. The price discovered for e-cars is 25 % less than similar cars in market.
- Electric Vehicles Charging Infrastructure: EESL is also installing Public Charging Stations to promote Electric vehicles. Till date, 65 nos. of Public Charging Stations (PCS) have been commissioned in New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) area.
- Atal Jyoti Yojana (AJAY) and Solar Study Lamp scheme:
- Over 1.48 lakh Solar LED Street Lights commissioned in rural areas under AJAY and over 59.18 lakh Solar Study Lamps distributed to school going students under Solar Study Lamp scheme.
Links:
https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1599334