Finance Minister Prafulla Chandra Ghadei today announced the new scheme at a workshop on power tariff setting, organised by the Orissa Electricity Regulatory Commission (OERC) here.

The Minister said that the scheme will be similar to the Biju Gram Jyoti Yojana but the programme will be launched in areas governed by urban local bodies.

Final touches are being given to the programme, worked out in consultation with Urban Development and Planning Coordination Departments.

After finalisation of the scheme, it will be tabled in the State Cabinet for approval and necessary budgetary provision will be made from State’s own resources, sources said.

Under the Biju Gram Jyoti Yojana, human habitations with less than 100 people are being electrified.

In the first phase, the Government had allocated Rs 314 crore to 314 blocks, Rs 1 crore for electrification of unelectrified habitations, free connection (Kutir Jyoti) to BPL households and energisation of pump sets.

Launching the scheme on September 26, 2007 the Government set a target to cover 10,000 habitations during the Eleventh Plan period ending in 2011-12.

The State schemes are Gopabandhu Gramin Yojana, Madhubabu Pension Yojana, Biju KBK Yojana, Biju Krushak Yojana, Biju Kandhamal Yojana and Biju Gajapati Yojana.