By IANS,
Ahmedabad : Karnataka is keen to replicate Gujarat’s unique ‘Jyotigram Yojana’ which provides 24 hour electrical supply to villages, the state’s Energy Minister K.S. Eshwarappa Monday said here.
Eshwarappa, who led a team here to study the project, met Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and sought technical assistance in replicating the Jyotigram model in his state’s ‘Nirantara Jyothi’ scheme, which aims to provide 24-hour electricity supply in 20,000 villages.
Modi highlighted Gujarat’s blue revolution, noting the farmer needs water more than electricity for his agriculture. Thrust has been on to develop drip irrigation through PPP (public-private partnership) and water tables have risen as a result, he said.
Karnataka and Gujarat could cooperate in establishing power plants and electricity distribution and its management, the chief minister added.
Gujarat’s Minister of State for Energy Saurabh Patel, Principal Secretary (Energy) Jagdeesan, and Principal Secretary to Modi K. Kailashnathan were also present.
The Karnataka delegation toured the rural areas of Gujarat and noted the accomplishments of Jyotigram scheme which has brought in 24-hour, 3-phase electricity supply. They also noted the scheme’s effect in bringing improvements in road infrastructure and drinking water supply.