By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, June 3, 2-016 : Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday asked the officials to ensure electrification of each village by 2019.

Reviewing the performance of the department here, Patnaik also asked the officials to replace the 15,000 defunct transformers and facilitate electricity supply to each BPL family of the state over next four years, according to a press release by the Chief Minister’s Office after the meeting,

The State Government completed the electrification of 7,000 villages and hamlets in the past one year. It has benefited 11.5 lakh families including 3.5 families under BPL category, it added.

The chief minister expressed his happiness over the rapid improvement in electricity transmission system in Puri during Nabakalebara and the overall hydro-power management this year by Odisha Hydro Power Corporation Limited (OHPC) and GRIDCO given scanty rainfall in the state.

Necessary steps have been taken to set up two hydro power projects by OHPC. Besides, a 14 MW solar power plant has already become functional in Manmunda town of Boudh district.

“We have made significant progress in electricity distribution and transmission in the state in the past one year. Today we presented our report card to the Chief Minister. Apart from the achievements of the past year, we also considered setting up 450 new substations (33/11 KV) and providing dedicated 11 KV feeder line for agriculture and fishery in the meeting,” said Odisha Energy Minister Pranab Prakash Das speaking to reporters after the meeting.