Rajasthan CM Bhajan Lal Sharma pushes for power self-reliance by 2027
Jaipur, June 3
Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma has reaffirmed the state government's commitment to making Rajasthan self-reliant in the power sector by 2027. He directed the Energy Department to ensure efficient management of power generation, transmission and distribution systems so that uninterrupted electricity supply is available to farmers, industries and the general public.
Chairing a high-level review meeting of the Energy Department at the Chief Minister's Residence on Wednesday, Sharma said Rajasthan should strengthen its position not merely as a consumer of electricity but as a leading power-producing state.
He called upon departmental officials to work with dedication and accountability while ensuring strict adherence to the prescribed action plans.
The Chief Minister directed officials to accelerate ongoing works aimed at strengthening the state's power infrastructure.
He also emphasised expanding the facility of daytime electricity supply for farmers, currently available in 26 districts, to the remaining districts at the earliest.
Further, he instructed officials to maximise the benefits of the PM-KUSUM Scheme and the PM Surya Ghar Scheme by ensuring greater participation from eligible beneficiaries.
Sharma stressed the need for close coordination among all power distribution companies (DISCOMs) to maintain reliable electricity availability across the state.
He also directed that the remaining works under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) in Jodhpur DISCOM be completed on priority.
Additionally, he called for technology-driven improvements in consumer grievance redressal systems to ensure faster and more effective service delivery.
During the meeting, officials informed the Chief Minister that on June 2, 2026, the state's thermal power stations achieved a record generation of 7,171 MW while operating at peak capacity utilisation.
It was also reported that while Rajasthan had to procure nearly 8 per cent of its electricity requirement from external sources in May 2025, that dependence had been reduced to just 2 per cent in May 2026 due to sustained efforts to enhance in-state generation capacity and improve power management.
The Chief Minister directed officials to continue efforts to further augment power generation capacity and strengthen the state's energy security.
It was also informed at the meeting that during the last two-and-a-half years, the state has established 60 grid substations (GSS) of 400 kV, 220 kV and 132 kV capacities, while work on 151 additional GSSs is currently underway.
During the same period, 444 substations of 33 kV capacity have been commissioned and work on 211 more substations is in progress.
Minister of State for Energy (Independent Charge) Hiralal Nagar, Chief Secretary V. Srinivas, Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister Akhil Arora, Energy Secretary Aarti Dogra and senior officials of the Energy Department were present at the meeting.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Sounds promising but I hope they focus on solar too. Rajasthan gets so much sunlight, it's a waste not to harness it fully. And the PM-KUSUM scheme is good but I've heard many farmers struggle with paperwork to get benefits. Hope this time it gets implemented smoothly.
As someone who moved to Jaipur from the US, I can say India's progress in energy is impressive. But the real challenge is maintenance – building substations is one thing, keeping them running efficiently is another. Hope the CM follows through with accountability.
My father is a farmer in Jodhpur and he says daytime electricity has reduced diesel costs for pumps significantly. Now if they can cover all 33 districts by 2027, that would really boost rural livelihoods. Good to see focus on Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme too – our local DISCOM needs improvement badly.
Setting a target of 2027 for self-reliance is ambitious. The record generation of 7,171 MW is notable, but industrial areas still face voltage fluctuations. I work in manufacturing near Bhiwadi and we've had production losses due to power quality issues. Hope technology-driven grievance redressal actually works.
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