Centre Aims To Provide 24X7 Power To All By 2019

NEW DELHI: The central government is on target to meet its ambitious goal to give uninterrupted electricity to all homes across India, an official said.

"Comprehensive state-specific action plans for 24x7 power to all homes is being prepared in partnership with respective states, encompassing generation, transmission and distribution," the power ministry said in its year-end review.

"We believe our steps to increase coal production are on the right track, our targets are quite doable, whether it is renewable energy, coal production or 24x7 power, we are very confident of our targets," said Power Minister Piyush Goyal, who also holds the portfolios of coal and new and renewable energy.

According to official estimates, 53 million homes in the country are not yet electrified and many offices and factories continue their operation on diesel gensets.

The year closed with the government this month tabling in parliament significant pieces of legislation involving the sector - on the reallocation and auction of 204 coal mines cancelled previously by the Supreme Court, and for makng amendments to the Electricity Act of 2003.

Coal Secretary Anil Swarup said: "There are 380 million tonnes of coal lying in these mines and when extracted will help us stop imports and take us to the target of one billion tonnes of coal production in the next few years."

With the cabinet approval of the guidelines for e-auction of the blocks earlier this week, the government has started the process of allocating 41 coal blocks. The tender documents for the auction were released Saturday.

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