Electric wires in Haridwar to go underground

The foundation stone for a project that will lay underground high-tension and low-tension cables in Kumbh area in Haridwar was laid by Union minister of state for power R K Singh on Friday. CM Trivendra Rawat also announced a government hospital in north Haridwar, a sewerage system, a nagar nigam building, a science park and a yoga park.

On the occasion, Singh said, “Haridwar is only the second city after Varanasi where an underground cabling project has been sanctioned by the Centre. This is in keeping with the significance of the holy city.”

The project is to be completed in two years. The initial grant for the project under Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS) of the Centre is Rs 400 crore.

Singh also said that PM Modi’s objective to electrify all villages was achieved a week before its deadline of May 11. A village is considered electrified if 10% of its households and public centres have power. Singh also said that the PM has set a target of providing electricity connection to all houses by December 31, 2018. “Fifty lakh families have already been covered under the scheme,” he added.