Initiative to Provide Electricity to 461 Former Naxal-Affected Villages in Bastar; Special Central Assistance Sought

Chief Minister Sai Meets Union Tribal Affairs Minister

Raipur, July 2026 : Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai met Union Tribal Affairs Minister Shri Jual Oram and requested special financial assistance of ₹435 crore from the Central Government to extend grid electricity to 461 remote and formerly Naxal-affected villages across seven districts of the Bastar division under the Dharti Aaba Gram Utkarsh Yojana.

The Chief Minister submitted a detailed proposal in this regard and said that providing basic facilities such as electricity to villages that remained deprived of development for years due to Naxal violence is among the state government’s highest priorities.

Chief Minister Sai informed the Union Minister that the total estimated cost of the project is ₹973 crore. The state government has sought financial assistance from the Centre over three financial years.

Under the proposal, ₹85 crore has been sought for 2026-27, ₹250 crore for 2027-28 and ₹100 crore for 2028-29, taking the total requested assistance to ₹435 crore. The remaining cost of the project will be borne by the state government.

The Chief Minister urged the Union Tribal Affairs Minister to consider the proposal as a special case under Article 275(1) of the Constitution and approve it at the earliest. He said timely approval would enable the remote villages of Bastar to become part of the mainstream of development.

Sai said that access to electricity would bring a significant transformation to the lives of tribal families in these villages. Besides improving living conditions, reliable power supply would provide a major boost to education, healthcare, employment opportunities and small-scale industries.

The Chief Minister emphasised that electricity is a crucial foundation for sustainable development and that extending grid connectivity to these 461 villages would help accelerate the overall socio-economic progress of the region.

Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram assured the Chief Minister that the approval process would be initiated immediately after receipt of the proposal under the Dharti Aaba Gram Utkarsh Yojana. He also assured that lack of funds would not be allowed to become a hurdle in implementing the project.

Oram said the Central Government would extend full cooperation for the development of Bastar and support efforts aimed at improving basic infrastructure and facilities in the region.

The proposed electricity project is being viewed by the state government as an important component of its broader efforts to connect remote areas of Bastar with essential infrastructure and development opportunities.

Chief Minister Sai said Bastar was increasingly emerging as a region identified with development, trust and new possibilities. He described extending electricity to the 461 villages as another significant step in the region’s ongoing transformation.

The initiative is expected to strengthen the integration of remote and formerly Naxal-affected villages with the broader development process while creating better opportunities for residents through improved access to essential services and economic activities.