Member Parliament, Jugal Kishore Sharma reviewed the progress of implementation of Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY) at a high-level meeting here today.DDUGJY was launched in November 2014 with an approved outlay of Rs 43,033 crore for improvement of rural electrification.Speaking at the meeting, Jugal Kishore asked the Power Development Department and IRCON officials to gear up their men and machinery to strengthen as well as upgrade power network especially in un-electrified and rural areas. He also stressed for installation of superior quality poles and cables in densely populated areas.The meeting was convened to review the progress of DDUGJY in three districts of Jammu, Rajouri and Poonch. Detailed discussion was held over the power scenario and the issues relating to upgradation of electric infrastructure and improving power supply in these districts.
Minister for CA&PD and Tribal Affairs, Choudhary Zulfkar Ali, Minister for Transport, Abdul Ghani Kohli, Member Parliament (Rajya Sabha) Shamsher Singh Manhas, MLA Jammu West, Sat Paul Sharma, MLA Suchetgarh, Sham Choudhary, MLA R S Pura, Gagan Bhagat, MLA Chamb, Krishan Lal and MLA Akhnoor, Rajeev Sharma were present in the meeting.
The meeting was informed that the Centre has allocated Rs 530 crore under DDUGJY for 21 districts of J&K.Speaking at the meeting, Choudhary Zulfkar called for prioritizing electrification of uncovered rural areas under the first phase of DDUGJY by revisiting the proposal for bringing in un-electrified and virgin areas of Rajouri and Poonch district in its ambit.Asking PDD and IRCON authorities to take into consideration the difficult terrain of twin districts of Rajouri and Poonch while formulating electrification plan under DDUGJY, Zulfkar asked them to prioritize inaccessible and remote areas of these districts where people still live in darkness. He further asked for setting up transformer bank at district headquarters to immediately replace the damaged transformers.‘’Focus should to on strengthening and augmenting sub-transmission and distribution infrastructure,” the Minister maintained.Speaking on the occasion, Kohli impressed upon the executing agencies to complete their set targets within stipulated time frame.The meeting was informed that Rs 29.38 cr each have been earmarked for Poonch and Rajouri districts under DDUGJY.The legislators also suggested several measures for ensuring that the scheme is implemented in a transparent manner so that people get benefitted from it.Among others Deputy Commissioner Rajouri, SE, Planning & Design, SE PDD, besides officers of IRCON and other senior officers of line department attended the meeting.