Franchise scheme for rural areas to start

Giving a thrust to the power supply in rural areas of Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Mayawati today said that the "Franchise Scheme" will be introduced in the rural areas to provide power in the villages.

"We are introducing the franchise system in 10 districts in the first phase while the remaining districts will be covered in a phased manner," she said.

Addressing a Press Conference, Mayawati said the scheme will provide at least 10,000 jobs to technically trained youths in the rural areas.

"The new system will also facilitate maintenance of rural electricity infrastructure locally and improve revenue collection from rural areas. Besides this additional realisation will be used for increasing power supply in the rural areas," she added.

The 10 districts, where franchise scheme would be implemented in the first phase, are Agra, Hathras, Mahoba, Hamirpur, Bulandshahar, Jyotiba Phole Nagar, Badaun, Rae Bareli, Pratapgarh and Sant Ravidas Nagar.

Mayawati also announced that for the conservation of energy, Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL) lamps have been made mandatory in all government offices. Also, incentives will be provided to the general public for use of CFL lamps.

"However, my government will continue to provide electricity at reasonable rates to the families of SC/ST backward classes and poor,' she said.