Aurangabad: As many as 15,561 families in Aurangabad zone will soon get power connection for the first time under the Centre’s Saubhagya Yojna.The central scheme aims to achieve cent per cent household electrification by providing last mile connectivity and electricity connections to all households in rural and urban areas. As part of the scheme, eligible beneficiaries will be given one power plug and one LED bulb free along with the internal house wiring.MSEDCL Aurangabad circle chief engineer Suresh Ganeshkar on Wednesday said that a total of 13,253 connections for above poverty line (APL) citizens and another 2,308 for below poverty line (BPL) residents would be given under the Saubhagya Scheme.“We will be incurring expenditure of Rs 4.44 crore towards electrification of homes of APL residents and another Rs 77 lakh for BPL category residents,” he added.Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojna, also titled as Saubhagya scheme September 25 last year.Under the scheme, households sans power connection from rural and urban areas will be provided electricity. Free connections will be provided to prospective beneficiaries households using the Socio Economic Caste Census (SECC) 2011 data. But even those not covered under this data can avail benefit of the scheme by paying Rs 500 in 10 instalments along with the electricity bills, an official release said.It is mandatory for the beneficiaries of the scheme to pay monthly electricity bill. Only the households in which electricity has been permanently disconnected, living in temporary immigrants camps and houses in the agricultural land where it is not monetarily feasible to provide electricity, are excluded from this scheme.In the remote and inaccessible areas, where the conventional electrification is not possible, household will be electrified through the solar energy power packs. At such places 1 DC Fan, 5 LED Bulbs and 1 Power Plug will be provided free with the internal house wiring, MSEDCL authorities said.The houses constructed under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna, Shabri Yojna, Ramai Yojna, Adim Yojna and other schemes will also be provided free electricity under Saubhagya scheme.On the basis of the survey done under the Saubhagya Scheme in the state, there is a target to extend power connections to 11,64,135 beneficiaries. Of these, 7,67,939 beneficiaries will be provided electricity through conventional energy sources and 21,056 will be provided through the non-conventional sources, MSEDCL authorities said.As a part of the scheme, cent per cent electrification will be done in the state by the end of this year. Those who wish to get benefit of the scheme can contact the toll-free number 18002003435/ 18002333435 or the nearest state power utility office.

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