Impact analysis of household electrification through grid electricity connections at Ganga Sagar Island, West Bengal, India

Abstract

“Ganga Sagar Island” otherwise called “Sagar Island” is the westernmost island of the Ganges-Brahmaputra delta that lies at the mouth of the Hooghly River in India. There was no grid-based electricity connection in the island up to the year 2012. The West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (WBSEDCL, 2018), with the support of Integrated Coastal Zone Management Project-West Bengal, took up the grid-based power supply to the island in 2010. Subsequently, 100% household electrification programme was started from the year 2012. On the basis of sample-based cross section data obtained from 402 households in Ganga Sagar Island, present paper attempts at analysing various impacts of grid-based electrification programme. Quasi experimental research design entailing before and after method of impact assessment is applied. The study finds that because of electrification, there is good deal of social as well as household level benefits linked with better production and consumption. The study views that because of electricity connection, socio-economic development of the region is gradually getting momentum.