By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, January 9, 2018: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday directed officials of the state Energy Department to complete electrification of all houses in the State by Gandhi Jayanti i.e on October 2, 2018.

Around 28 lakh houses in State are yet to be electrified in the state, officials said.

Presiding over a review meeting on rural electrification here, the chief minister called upon the officials to take up the task on a war footing manner. The CM directed Chief Secretary A P Padhi to review the progress of target in every month with the district collectors and implementing agencies.

Of total 47,677 villages, electricity connection (partial or full) has been provided to as many as 47,655 villages, it was revealed in the meeting. Naveen sought completion of electrification process of the remaining 22 habitations by end of this month.

The meeting also revealed that there are around 22,000 villages which are partially electrified and these habitations are located in Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Koraput, Balangir, Kandhamal and Gajapati districts.

Taking the matter seriously, Naveen directed to ensure three villages get fully electrified in every month in order to complete electrification of all villages in the State.