New Delhi: Promising every help to the State Electricity Boards for implementing time-bound reforms, Government today (June 6, 2004) said rural electrification would be taken up on priority basis.

"As many as 56 per cent rural households have yet to see the light... Our top priority is to go to villages and give them electricity," Union Power Minister P M Sayeed said.

He said the Centre would be extending every support to the power companies to achieve this target.

On the issue of review of New Electricity Act, 2003, Sayeed, however, said there was no plan to either amend the Act or repeal it.

"Some of the States have asked for extension on unbundling of the SEBs which has already been given to them," he said, adding that the Electricity Act 2003 intended to reorganise the SEBs and regulatory bodies in order to effectively control and monitor generation, transmission and distribution sectors.

States like Maharashtra, West Bengal and Chhattisgarh have sought extension to implement the reforms.

He also said that Government was committed to healthy reforms in the power sector on the same lines as it has happened in the telecom sector.

Asked about Common Minimum Programme outlining the need for reviewing of the Act especially with regard to unbundling of the SEBs, Sayeed said, "We will ensure that the sector is transformed on the basis of healthy reforms."