Scheme will be implemented by gram panchayats, who will act as franchisees
The state government yesterday said it will implement ‘one village, one rural electric manager’ scheme to ensure that problems of the rural population regarding electricity connections are resolved swiftly.
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“The scheme will be implemented by the gram panchayats. They will act as the franchisee,” said Maharashtra Power Minister Chandrashekar Bawankule. State Rural Development Minister Pankaja Munde was also present at the briefing. As franchisee, the gram panchayats will have the job of meter reading, attending to breakdowns, restoring electricity, maintaining street lights, new electric connections, stopping electricity connection for non-payment of arrears.
Gram panchayats will be given Rs 9 as fee per consumer. The job of rural electric manager will be on contract basis and the payment would be R9 per consumer or Rs 3,000 (monthly), whichever is more. “Mahavitaran will insure the rural electric managers and pay the premium,” the Power Minister added. Munde said her department has agreed to appoint gram panchayats as the franchisee and their jurisdiction would be all revenue villages.