In-principle Consent to the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme in the State

• 24 Sep 2021

Why in News

• On September 23, 2021, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel gave in-principle consent to implement the Revamped Distribution Sector (RDS) Scheme in the state.

Key Points

• The Chief Minister gave this consent while attending the meeting held by Rajkumar Singh, Minister of Power, New and Renewable Energy, Government of India through video conferencing from his residence office.
• During the discussion, the Chief Minister, while giving in-principle consent to the scheme, supported the demand for giving additional time limit for payment of electricity subsidy by other states.
• Energy Ministers from Bihar, Gujarat, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Goa and Daman and Diu also attended this meeting.
• Under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme, along with increasing the power infrastructure in the state, action will be taken to modernize and strengthen them.
• Under this scheme, all 53 lakh 50 thousand consumers, except agricultural consumers, will have smart meters installed.
• The Central government has set December 31, 2021 as the deadline for submission of a detailed project report.
• The estimated cost of the scheme is Rs 9,600 crores, which is targeted to be completed by March 2025.