No electricity bill for upto 25 unit consumption by BPL families

Bhopal: Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that a campaign for development has been launched in the state. Works for increasing power generation capacity, roads, drinking water and irrigation are being done in right earnest. The Chief Minister was addressing an Antyodaya Mela at Banda in Sagar district today. He inaugurated and laid foundation stones for development works costing about Rs. 112 crore. Shri Chouhan also distributed benefits worth Rs. 8 crore 99 lakh 94 thousand to 5259 beneficiaries under various schemes.
Chief Minister Shri Chouhan said that state’s people will get adequate power now. The government has fixed flat rates for irrigation pumps. Now, farmers will pay at the rate of Rs. 1200 per horsepower per annum. Besides, the government has also waived entire surcharge on farmers’ old electricity bills. He said that bills for consumption upto 25 units of BPL families will be waived. They will have to pay for consumption of more units.
The Chief Minister said that dams are necessary for increasing irrigation potential, but the government is also ensuring that no one suffers any loss due to them. If loss is suffered then concerning persons will be provided adequate compensation. About Pagara dam near Banda, he said that a solution will be found out after holding discussions. He said that a scheme has been launched to provide wheat and iodised salt at Re. 1 per kg and rice at Rs. 2 per kg to the poor. The Chief Minister made it clear that strict action will be taken against irregularities in this scheme.
Shri Chouhan said that the government has chalked out a scheme for youths to set up industries. Similarly, a scheme has also been chalked out for providing loan to traditional craftspersons after imparting training to them. Besides, Bina-Bhopal and Bina-Sagar industrial corridors are also being developed.
About assistance to Uttarakhand calamity-affected persons, the Chief Minister said that the State Government has made large-scale arrangements for relief and rescue. Helicopters and teams of officers have been sent there. Assistance worth Rs. 5 crore has also been given by the State Government. He said that the State Government will leave no stone unturned in rescuing people stranded in floods. Besides, Rs. 2 lakh each financial assistance will be given to families of state’s people who lost their lives in the calamity. List of deceased persons is being prepared. He also urged people to donate liberally for assistance to calamity-affected people.
Panchayats and Rural Development Minister Shri Gopal Bhargava also spoke on the occasion. MPs Shri Bhupendra Singh and Shri Shivraj Singh Lodhi, Zila Panchayat President Shri Harvansh Singh Rathore, State Scheduled Castes Commission Chairman Shri Narayan Kabirpanthi, Women’s Finance Development Corporation Chairperson Smt. Sudha Jain, MLAs Shri Shailendra Jain, Shri Bhanu Rana, Shri Padeep Lariya, Shri Narayan Prajapati, Bundelkhand Development Authority Vice-Chairman Shri Dalchand Patel, Municipal Corporation Chairman Shri Vinod Tiwari, former Minister Shri Laxminarayan Yadav, former MLA Shri Dharmu Rai, Mandi President Smt. Kashi Bai and large number of local people were present on the occasion.