LOK SABHA
INTEGRATION OF AJAY WITH UJALA PROGRAMME
3491. SHRI LAVU SRI KRISHNA DEVARAYALU
Will the Minister of NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY be pleased to state:
(a) whether there has been any proposal to integrate the Atal Jyoti Yojana (AJAY) to illuminate dark regions through establishment of solar street lights with the Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LEDs for All (UJALA) programme;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) the reasons for shutting down Phase-II of AJAY;
(d) whether the Government has carried out any assessment to measure the impact on the ‘luminosity’ of underserved regions being serviced under AJAY using night lights satellite Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) data by NASA; and
(e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?
(SHRI R.K. SINGH)
(a) & (b) No such proposal is currently under consideration with the Government.
(c) Due to outbreak of COVID-19, Government decided not to operate Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) for two years i.e. for FY 2020-21 and FY 2021-22. As AJAY Phase-II Scheme was partially funded through MPLADS, the Scheme was closed w.e.f. 01.04.2020 for new sanctions.
(d) & (e) No such assessment has been carried out. However, third party evaluation cum impact assessment of AJAY was conducted, which has reported that people were satisfied with the better illumination levels provided by solar street lights under AJAY.
