Aurangabad:Total 1,000 homes have been lightened in Aurangabad zone of MSEDCL, so far, as a part of central scheme of Saubhagya Yojna which aims to achieve cent per cent household electrification.Aurangabad zone comprises of Aurangabad and Jalan districts with each district recording 750 and 250 new connections under the Saubhagya Yojna.MSEDCL Aurangabad zone chief engineer Suresh Ganeshkar on Tuesday said that the implementation of the Central scheme would further pick up pace in the zone.We are hopeful of meeting the stipulated target well before the deadline of March-2019. Also, we appeal all beneficiaries to pay their power bills regularly, he said.As per latest official data, Aurangabad district will witness new 28,189 power connections while Jalna will have electrification in as many as 36,341 homes.Launched on September 25 last year, the Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojna, christened as Saubhagya scheme, offers one power plug and one LED bulb free along with the internal house wiring to eligible beneficiaries. Under the scheme, the un-electrified households from the rural and urban areas are being provided electricity with free connections provided to prospective beneficiaries households using the Socio Economic Caste Census (SECC) 2011 data. Those who are not part of Census data, can avail the scheme benefit by paying Rs.500 in 10 instalments along with the electricity bills, MSEDCL authorities said.Meanwhile, the State Power Utility has intensified drive to replace obsolete and faulty meters in Aurangabad zone. As per set target, over 40 electric meters across the zone will be replaced by new meters with MSEDCL bearing all expenses towards exchange.Presence of faulty or old electric meter is neither desirous for MSEDCL nor consumers. No correct billing is ensured using such meters and therefore such consumers are bound to face billing related complaints in many cases. Since no charges have to be paid towards replacement of meters, we appeal consumers to opt for latest meters, authorities said.MSEDCL authorities have also appealed consumers to pay their power bills in time to avoid disconnection. Major chunk of our staff is busy in pre-Monsoon drive currently and therefore we may not able to focus properly on recovery drive. We appeal consumers to pay bill on their own, Ganeshkar said.

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