41 percent of Odisha's BPL families are without power

About 18 lakh poor families, or 41 percent of all BPL households in Odisha, are yet to get an electricity connection, the state government said on Tuesday.

A total of 25.91 lakh households, out of 44.37 lakh Below Poverty Line (BPL) households in the state, have been provided electricity while 18.45 lakh are yet to get power connection, Energy Minister Pranab Prakash Das told the state assembly on Tuesday.

The total number of households - i.e. BPL plus others - without electricity connection was 35.35 lakh, Das had stated recently, noting that the state government aimed to electrify every household by the end of the 12th Five Year Plan (2012-2017).

The minister also informed the assembly that dues of Rs.5,538.23 crore were pending against electricity consumers in Odisha. The dues pending against BPL families were Rs.309.76 crore.

While general domestic consumers are charged Rs. 2.50 per unit up to 50 units, BPL consumers pay Rs.80 for 30 units per month.

Households are being provided electricity through Rajiv Gandhi Vidyutikaran Yojana, Biju Gramjyoti Yojana, Biju Saharanchal Bidyutkaran Yojana, and Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana.