27Home Lighting System at Village Udhewari, Block Mawal, Distt. Pune4.4Accordingly, it has been decided that SHP/ biomass/biofuels distributed generation systems will be deployed, wherefeasible and cost-effective. Additionally, wherever unit cost of electricity supplied is likely to exceed the unit cost of electricityfrom diesel distributed generation systems, only basic lighting with SPV home lighting systems will be provided. In line withthe provisions of the RGGVY, one light connection will be provided free of cost to BPL households.4.5PROGRESS DURING THE YEARCertain key enabling decisions were taken during the year to accelerate the implementation of Programme, especially after itsalignment with the RGGVY. These are:(a)Setting up of a Coordination Panel for the Programme To enable smooth implementation without duplication ofeffort among the concerned Ministries, a Coordination Panel has been set up under the Chairmanship of Secretary, MNES.In the meetings of the Panel held so far a coordinated approach towards implementation of the Programme has been laiddown.(b)Entrusting Responsibility for Identification of Remote Villages to Rural Electrification Corporation (REC) TheRural Electrification Corporation which is the apex implementing agency for the RGGVY has been given the responsibilityof furnishing lists of unelectrified census villages that are not likely to receive grid-connectivity apart from lists of remotehamlets of electrified census villages.Box4.1Electrification of an Unelectrified, Remote Village throughMicro-hydel ProjectUttaranchal has extensive potential for installation of small and micro hydel power generation projects in remote unelectrified villagesand hamlets. The typical characteristics of such remote villages include small population size, low electric load and large distance fromgrid. The Uttaranchal Renewable Energy Development Agency (UREDA) has been entrusted with the task of electrifying such remoteunelectrified census villages and hamlets. During 2005-06, the agency has commissioned 5 such micro-hydel projects for electrificationof remote villages.The Karmi-II micro-hydel project has been installed on the Karmi Gad stream, a tributary of river Saryu. The project is located inBlock Kapkot, District Bageshwar of Uttaranchal. It has an installed capacity of 50 KW. The design discharge of the project is 110litres/second and net design head is 70 metres. The power channel has a length of 210 metres. Around 13 km long transmission anddistribution lines have been laid for evacuation of electricity in the project area.Electricity is being supplied to Karmi Toli village and its 5 hamlets, namely Sapuli, Guthan, Munar Meri, Topniya and Okhliyo. Theproject is being operated and maintained by Karmi-II Energy Committee which is registered under Society Registration Act, 18 60. Afixed monthly tariff varying from Rs. 30 to Rs. 200 per month per consumer, depending upon the category of user and the load iscollected. As a result of access to electricity, the village and its hamlets have witnessed a major transformation. Television for entertainment/ information, drinking water pumping, domestic, street and community lighting, etc. have now become possible.The project was set up under the Remote Village Electrification Programme of the Ministry which provides subsidy upto 90% of projectbenchmark costs.