Date:14/03/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/03/14/stories/2003031408711100.htm

National

Interest subsidy for extending electricity to villages

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI March 13. The Union Cabinet's Committee on Economic Affairs today cleared a new scheme to provide an interest subsidy of four per cent on loans taken by State Governments for extending electricity to villages, which still remain unelectrified.

Announcing this, the Government's spokesperson said the scheme would be operational from the current financial year (2002-03) itself and consequently the CCEA also approved an outlay of Rs. 163.87 crores for this year and Rs. 563.87 crores for the entire 10th Plan period.

While the focus of the programme would be to ensure that electricity supply reached at least up to the village level, it could be extended to individual households and hamlets in case that target was achieved.