Ref. : ER/Press/’03/USAID.48/kkb-dg

USAID Invites CERC to Join Slum Electrification Project

A United States Agency for International Development (USAID) team, headed by Ms.Connig Smyher, is visiting Ahmedabad from 17 to 21 November 2003 for a slum electrification project. The team comprises members of the USAID and the Advanced Engineering Associates International (AEAI).

The USAID has selected for the project Ahmedabad city in India, Manila in the Philippines, Cape Town in South Africa, and Salvador in Brazil. The team will study the innovative approaches for slum electrification in Ahmedabad.
The objectives of the project are to :

1. identify the barriers such as the cost of, or lack of finance for, legal metered connection;

2. examine global experience for access to electricity in slums/shacklands/informal areas;

3. study the relative effectiveness of the different approaches identified and to evaluate the economic and social impacts of these approaches on service providers; and

4. study the lessons learnt, conclusions and recommendations for the use of the programme in slum electrification.

The USAID-AEAI has requested CERC for the services of a Senior Energy Consultant for the project in Ahmedabad. Mr. K.K. Bajaj, Hon. Director, will represent CERC in the project.

The team intends to meet various organisations e.g. Government of Gujarat (GoG), Gujarat Electricity Board (GEB), Ahmedabad Electricity Company (AEC), Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (AUDA) and Gujarat

Electricity Regulatory Commission (GERC) and discuss the implementation of the project. The AEC has already carried out a project along with USAID in Phase-I of the programme and electricity has been provided to various slums in and around Ahmedabad.

The team will visit such slums where the AEC and the GEB have provided electricity in authorised inhabitations. The team will also interact with Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) and Community Based Organisations (CBOs) which are actively involved in various social services in the slum areas.

Date : 18/11/03
Place : Ahmedabad

Pritee Shah
Senior Director - CERC &
Editor
INSIGHT - The Consumer Magazine

————————————————————————————————
CONSUMER EDUCATION AND RESEARCH CENTRE
“Suraksha Sankool”, Thaltej, Sarkhej-Gandhinagar Highway,
Ahmedabad- 380 054 (INDIA)
Phone: 079-7489945-46 Fax: 079-7489947
E-mail: cerc@wilnetonline.net

Web Site: http://www.cercindia.org
————————————————————————————————