This story is from February 8, 2019

Chhattisgarh domestic consumers’ power bills to be reduced by half

Chhattisgarh domestic consumers’ power bills to be reduced by half
File photo of Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel
RAIPUR: Fulfilling yet another poll promise, Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel announced to reduce electricity bills of all domestic consumers with consumption up to 400 units by making a provision of Rs 400 crore.
“A consumer would get an automated reduced electricity bill of 50 per cent up to consumption of 400 units”, chief minister Bhupesh Baghel announced in the budget presented in the Vidhan Sabha on Friday.
Later, briefing mediapersons he explained that “Any consumption above 400 units would be charged on normal rates”.
In view of re-stationing for power supply, the budget proposes a new provision of Rs 50 crore for establishment of Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA) in Raipur, Durg-Bhilai and Bilaspur industrial areas. This will be followed by setting up of smart meters in four cities with an allowance of Rs 33 crore.
In accordance with the new parameters of environment, forest and climate ministry, there is a provision of Rs 95.4 crore for the amount of equity to set up the Flue Gas Desulfurization plant in four units of Hasdeo Power Plant.
As far as infrastructural development in urban areas and housing schemes are concerned, Rs 371 crore and Rs 595 crore have been sanctioned respectively, while Rs 396 for smart city and Rs 231 crore for Amrut Mission has been allotted.
Baghel said that under the ADB phase-3 project by the Public Works Department, a provision of Rs 300 crore for the construction of 35 new roads costing Rs 3500 crore has been sanctioned for this year. A new scheme for bridge construction over all rivers and water bodies has a sanction of Rs 100 crore under Jawahar Setu Scheme. Nearly 102 bridges are to be built in the state at a cost of Rs 438 crore.

Provision of Rs 400 crore for new construction works would include 261 roads covering 1058 km in rural areas, 30 main roads of 351 km in districts, seven roads of 97 km and 73 km sanctioned for urban routes.
Baghel added that provision of Rs 317 crore for transport network (rail route) and two railway overbridges at a cost of Rs 19 crore has been made. Rs 20 crore for construction of infrastructure projects in industrial areas and Rs 3 crore for the establishment of entrepreneurship development institute in Durg, Sarguja and Jagdalpur have been sanctioned. Rs 75 crore for cost capital grant to industrial units, Rs 38 crore for interest subsidy and Rs 5 crore will be released for encouraging start-up units.
For planting large trees in the nursery of forest department and effective protection of trees, state government would release Rs 20 crore.
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About the Author
Rashmi Drolia

Rashmi is a Special Correspondent with The Times of India in Chhattisgarh. She covers Politics, Left Wing Extremism, Crime and Human Rights among other areas of news value.

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