50.37 lakh BPL households in Telangana save ₹1,775 cr on energy bills in one year through Gruha Jyothi scheme

Telangana's Gruha Jyothi scheme provides free electricity to low-income households, benefiting nearly 50.37 lakh Below Povery Line (BPL) households with ₹1,775.16 crore paid by the government.

HYDERABAD

The Gruha Jyothi scheme launched by the Telangana Government on March 1 last year to provide free electricity of 200 units per month to the low-income group households, ration card holders, has benefited nearly 50.37 lakh households/electricity consumers with the government paying their bills to the tune of ₹1,775.16 crore in a year’s time.

According to officials in the Energy Department, the number of beneficiaries under the scheme was 39,86,337 when it was launched and by February-end this year it has reached 50,36,680. A total of 5,11,61,104 ‘zero’ bills, bills borne by the State Government as part of the poll promise, were issued under the scheme in one year.

The officials said that the number of households in the limits of Southern Power Distribution Companyof Telangana Ltd (TGSPDCL) which benefited from the scheme was 25,86,027 till February-end and it was 24,50,653 in the limits of Northern Power Distribution Company of Telangana Ltd (TGNPDCL).

Of the total zero bills issued so far, for 12 months, 2,46,34,860 were issued in Southern Discom and 2,65,26,244 in Northern Discom limits. The government had reimbursed the two utilities with ₹850.58 crore and ₹924.58 crore, respectively, towards the amount for electricity consumed by the beneficiaries under the Gruha Jyothi scheme.

The scheme has benefited most in GHMC area with the government paying monthly power bills of 5.3 lakh consumers consuming up to 200 units, followed by 2.81 lakh in Nizamabad, 2.64 lakh in Khammam, 2.42 lakh in Nalgonda, 2.2 lakh in Rangareddy, 2.06 lakh in Jagtial, 2.05 lakh in Sangareddy, 2 lakh in Siddipet, 1.81 lakh in Suryapet, 1.69 lakh in Bhadradri Kothagudem, 1.67 lakh in Karimnagar and, 1.66 lakh in Kamareddy district.

Further, their numbers is 1.49 lakh in Yadadri Bhuvanagiri, 1.34 lakh in Vikarabad, 1.33 lakh in Peddapalli, 1.32 lakh in Mahabubnagar, 1.29 lakh each in Warangal and Medak, 1.26 in Nirmal, 1.25 lakh in Mancherial, 1.22 lakh in Hanumakonda, 1.12 lakh in Nagarkurnool, 1.07 lakh in Mahabubabad, 1.06 lakh in Rajanna, 1.02 lakh in Adilabad district.