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The CAG report says that the coverage of the districts was not equitable. Against the target of electrifying all rural households (1.11 crore) by 2012 only 35.40 lakh were electrified March 31,2007.
The target was electrification of all the inhabited mouzas, (37,910) in the state by March 2007.
Agencies such as WBREDC(West Bengal Rural Electrification Development Corporation), WBSEB(West Bengal State Electricity Board), and WBREDA(West Bengal Renewable Energy Development Agency), however claimed that 34,448 mouzas (91 percent ) were electrified.
Despite poor performance in previous years, WBREDC increased the yearly target for mouza electrification in 2004-05. Subsequently, the targets were reduced during 2005-07 but even these modest targets could not be achieved in spite of availability of funds, the report says.
The WBREDC focused on intensification and revitalization and ignored the electrification of new mouzas.
“WBREDC has not only drawn up schemes for electrification of virgin mouzas below the requirement but has also failed to fulfil the targets due to low priority being accorded to electrification of virgin mouzas in comparison to electrification and intensification work,” the report said.
About 1760 schemes under WBSEB for rural electrification were still pending on 31 March 2007 even after four to eight years of their sanctioning.
The CAG reports says that it caused a loss of 6.51 crore as 90,402 costumers were not given new connections. Rs 2.17 crore earmarked for the rural electrification were blocked, as the schemes in 78 mouzas could not be completed by 31 March 2007.
Delay in installing and augmenting distribution to 326 costumers led to blocking of funds up to Rs 0.96 crores. The WBREDC, burdened with an interest of Rs 18.59 crore, also failed to provide electricity to 254 targeted Dalit bastis and 775 hamlets despite availability of funds, the report said.
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