The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on Friday decided to extend the Restructured Accelerated Power Development and Reforms Programme (R-APDR) for the 12th Five-Year Plan period to strengthen the distribution sector.

The Government launched this programme in the 11th Plan with an objective of reducing distribution losses.

“R-APDR programme would continue in the 12th Plan to complete the ongoing projects,” said Finance Minister P. Chidambaram.

The scheme would cost Rs 10,830 crore in the 12th Plan and Rs 11,897 crore as spill over in the 13th Plan.

In order to implement the programme, the Union Government would facilitate loans of Rs 50,000 crore to States. Of this, Rs 31,577 crore would be converted to grant.

During the 11th Plan, projects worth Rs 5,242.64 crore covering 1,401 villages in 29 States and Union Territories have been sanctioned.

The R-APDRP programme is divided into two parts. The first part includes projects for establishment of baseline data and implementing IT applications, billing and customer care services, among others. The second part includes distribution strengthening projects.

siddhartha.s@thehindu.co.in

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