IPDS to strengthen power transmission, distribution network

Power Minister Piyush Goyal today said the Inergated Power Development Scheme (IPDS) is aimed at strengthening the power sub-transmission and distribution network in urban areas in states and Union Territories.
IPDS was scheduled to be launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi today but the programme was cancelled due to heavy rains. The Power Ministry will soon finalise a new date for the launch.
Talking to reporters, Goyal said IPDS will also ensure 100 per cent metering at feeders, distribution, transformer and consumers and for IT enablement of distribution sector.
Goyal added the Centre was extending a total budgetary support of Rs 45,800 crore for implementation of the scheme.

He said that projects worth Rs 3,268 crore, covering 247 towns, have been sanctioned so far under IPDS, of which projects worth Rs 1,067 crore for 23 circles covering 91 towns have been sanctioned for Uttar Pradesh.
The minister said that it included Rs 432 crore for Kashi area and Rs 140 crore for remaining Varanasi town.

He further said in these projects the share of the Centre would be 60 per cent, 10 per cent of the state, whereas loan by PSUs of the ministry would be 30 per cent.
"If the states comply with certain norms fixed by the central government then the Centre's shares will rise up to 75 per cent," he said.

Goyal said that in spacial case of Jammu and Kashmir and North-Eastern states, the Centre share would be 90 per cent and that of the local government would be five per cent, whereas the loan by the PSUs would be five per cent.
Highlighting the government's Domestic Efficient Lighting Programme (DELP) and LED-Based Smart Street Light programme, Goyal said for promoting energy efficiency in Varanasi nearly 36,000 street lights would be replaced with efficient and smart LED lights that would save around Rs 31 crore annually to municipal corporation here.