Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde has sought from the Planning Commission, additional funds for the government's flagship rural electrification scheme, Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana, RGGVY. Speaking at the State Power ministers meeting in New Delhi, Mr. Shinde said, 50,000 crore rupees additional funds are needed for the RGGVY in the next five years. The scheme aims to provide power to all villages and habitations, giving access to electricity to all rural households and providing connections to Below Poverty Line families free of charge. Mr. Shinde said, to meet the target of about 88,000 MW, which includes 5,300 MW from nuclear power proposed during the current plan period, the issues of fuel availability and finding adequate land for setting up new power stations needs to be addressed.

Mr Shinde asked the states to play a proactive role in identifying and facilitating the procurement of land for power projects.
Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia emphasized that energy prices have to be aligned globally.