HOME

Programme for Electrification of Remote Unelectrified Census Villages through Non-Conventional Energy Sources-Administrative Approval for the year 2005 – 06 regarding.

1. Objective

The objective of the programme is electrification of unelectrified remote census villages where grid connectivity is either not feasibility or not cost effective, through New & Renewable Energy source such as Solar energy, small hydro power, biomass, biogas, bio-fuel, end energy, or systems using more then one New & Renewable Energy resources in hybrid mode, etc.

2. Scope

The Remote Village Electrification Programme covers all those unelectrified remote census villages for electrification through new & renewable energy sources, where “grid connectivity is either not feasible or not cost effective”. A certificate to the effect that grid electrification of the village through extension of grid is either not feasible or not cost effective from the Rural Electrification Corporation or any other agency which may be notified by the Ministry for this purpose, should be enclosed along with the project proposal.

3. Definition of Electrification of Villages.

In accordance with the approved definition of village electrification remote villages will be deemed to be electrified if a minimum of 10% of the households are provided with lightning facility and electricity is also made available for community facilities and for dalit bastis (habitations) of the village, if any.

However systems for electrification through New & Renewable Energy sources should be designed, unless it is unfeasible to do so, for coverage of all the households and creation of capability for availability to electricity as laid down in the National Electricity Policy, 2005, i.e., a minimum 1KWH/Household/day.

4. Activities under the Programme

The programme will cover the following:-

1. Support for surveys and studies if required, for firming up of State wise lists of remote unelectrified census villages; assessing the renewable energy resources available in the villages and energy requirements of the community; and , identification of appropriate technology options for electrification, preparation of State-wise Master Plan using such techniques as GIS based mapping, etc.
2. Support for installation of power plants based on solar energy, small hydro power, biomass, wind, bio fuels, biogas and any other renewable energy source; combination of renewable energy of hybrid systems, if necessitated; and, solar home lighting systems for lighting, and other SPV systems for community purposes.
3. Support for training, institutional development, capacity building, developing of maintenance services, etc.
4. Support for monitoring and evaluation of individual projects or the Programme as whole, including, technical, operational and socio-economic aspects, user feedback, impact assessment, etc., development of management information systems for proper coordination and monitoring, etc.
5. Support for training and awareness programmes targeted at various categories of personnel, stakeholders’ meetings/conferences, etc. Grants for these will be provided subject to a maximum of Rs. 3 lakhs per events on case to case basis on merit only.

5. Implementation Strategy.

The Programme will be implemented through State Nodal Agencies for renewable energy / Power Documents/Electricity Boards/Corporate Entities for power generation, transmission and distribution set up by the Central or State Governments, with active involvement of district-level bodies, panchayati raj institutions, village councils, etc. However, the State Governments should notify the nodal agency which will be responsible for coordination of all the efforts in the State pertaining to electrification of remote unelectrified census villages through non-conventional energy sources.

The projects under the Programme will be implemented as per the guidelines which may be issued by the Ministry from time to time.

6. Project Proposals

Project proposals for electrification of remote villages should be accompanied by a project report as per the formals prescribed in the Programme guidelines. The proposals should also contains:

1. Complete census code number (2001 census ) of the remote village.
2. List of beneficiaries
3. Commitments for meeting the balance requirement of funds along with details of financial tie-up.
4. Certificate to the effects that Grid electrification of the village is either not feasible or not cost effective, as at para 2 above.