The Cabinet on Thursday approved four significant decisions for the power sector — Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana, Integrated Power Development Scheme, North Eastern Region Power System Improvement Project, and a framework agreement for energy cooperation among SAARC members.

According to an official statement, the North Eastern Project is to strengthen the intra-State transmission and distribution system at an estimated cost of ₹5,111 crore, including capacity-building expenditure of ₹89 crore. The scheme is to be implemented with World Bank and Power Ministry assistance.

The Integrated Power Development Scheme is for the urban areas and entails an investment of ₹32,612 crore. The programme requires a budgetary support of ₹ 25,354 crore for the entire duration. The earlier scheme Restructured Accelerated Power Development and Reforms for 12th and 13th Plans will get subsumed in this new scheme.

The Deen Dayal project is for the rural areas. The full scheme entails an investment of ₹43,033 crore, but for 2014-15 the Government has allocated ₹500 crore. “The programme requires budgetary support of ₹33,453 crore from the Government over the entire implementation period,” the statement said.

The CCEA has already approved the ₹39,275 crore for the scheme, which includes budgetary support of ₹35,447 crore under the earlier scheme — Rajiv Gandhi Gram Vidyutikaran Yojana. This outlay will be carried forward to the new scheme in addition to the outlay of ₹43,033 crore, the statement said.

The Cabinet also approved a framework agreement among SAARC member-states during the forthcoming SAARC Summit in Kathmandu on November 26-27. 

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