Chhattisgarh CM meets Union Minister Oram, seeks Rs 435 crore for Bastar electrification plan

New Delhi: The Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Friday met Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram in New Delhi and sought special financial assistance of Rs 435 crore to extend grid electricity to 461 remote and erstwhile Maoist-affected villages in Bastar division, officials said.

During the meeting, Sai submitted a detailed proposal and said providing basic infrastructure such as electricity to villages where development had remained stalled for years due to Maoist violence is among the state government's highest priorities.

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The CM sought the assistance under Dharti Aaba Gram Utkarsh Yojana, an official statement said.

"The total cost of the electrification project is estimated at Rs 973 crore. Of this, the state has sought Rs 435 crore from the Centre over three financial years - Rs 85 crore in 2026-27, Rs 250 crore in 2027-28 and Rs 100 crore in 2028-29, while the remaining expenditure will be borne by the state government," the statement quoted Sai as saying.

The CM requested Oram to approve the proposal on priority as a special case under Article 275(1) of the Constitution so that remote villages of Bastar could be integrated into the mainstream of development, it added.

Electrification would bring significant changes to the lives of tribal families by improving access to education, healthcare, employment opportunities and small-scale industries, Sai said.

Oram assured Sai that the proposal will be processed for approval immediately upon receipt under the Dharti Aaba Gram Utkarsh Yojana, the statement said.

The Union minister said there would be no shortage of funds for the project and that the Centre would extend full support for the development of Bastar, it said.

Sai said Bastar, comprising seven districts, has been emerging as a symbol of development, trust and new opportunities, and extending electricity to these 461 villages would mark another important step in the region's transformation.

Chhattisgarh was declared free from Maoism on March 31 this year.

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