Need agri power connection? Install power infrastructure on your own: Govt to farmers
While chief minister Vasundhara Raje had announced two lakh power connections for the agriculture sector in this year’s budget, a circular issued by the state government has put the onus of installing power infrastructure on farmers
While chief minister Vasundhara Raje had announced two lakh power connections for the agriculture sector in this year’s budget, a circular issued by the state government has put the onus of installing power infrastructure on farmers.
The move has put the farmers in a fix. The government is offering an option to the farmers, waiting for the agriculture power connection for past many years, to install power infrastructure at their own level besides ensuring its security and maintenance.
Till date, the power department was installing the power infrastructure or arranging the task through department contractors.
In a recent move, the government has suggested that the farmers, who want immediate power connection, will either have to install power infrastructure or wait for their turn.
However, even this option is for only those who have applied for power connection before January 2012.
Farmers are shocked with this option as it is totally a technical task and they don’t have any expertise in this matter.
Farmers are in a dilemma because if they don’t accept government’s option, they will have to wait for many years.
The discom will by supply the material such as wires and reimburse ₹750 per pole (measured as standard distance between two poles).
In the last budget, the chief minister announced to release two lakhs power connection and set the cut-off date as January 2012.
According to official data obtained from Jaipur discom, about 2.90 lakh farmers in Rajasthan have applied for the agriculture power connection out of which 61,988 farmers have been issued connection demand note (to deposit a nominal amount) before electricity connection is provided.
Out of this, the department has given power connection to 7,333 farmers.
In Barmer, 24,994 farmers, who have applied for the agricultural power connection after February 2010, are waiting for their connection.
The data further revealed that till January 2018, the department had released only 1,076 connection in Barmer against pendency of 24,994.
Now, after the chief minister’s recent announcement, the department has listed out 9,570 out of 24,994 applicants to whom connection will be released in this year.
Under this new move, the government has issued a circular in which it is mentioned that that to reduce pendency of power connection, those who want immediate connections has to install power infrastructure including laying down of electricity line and installation of power sub-station.
The government has also offered reimbursement to such applicant saying that ₹750 on per span will be adjusted in their next bills.
However, farmers are not taking interest in this scheme. After which government also directed power department officials to ensure maximum publicity of this scheme.
Confirming the report, Goparam Sirvi, chief engineer at Jodhpur Discom in Barmer, said they have got direction to release immediate power connection to the farmers who are ready to install power infrastructure at their own level.
Hemraj Choudhary, a farmer, said he doesn’t have expertise in laying down electricity line and installation of power sub-station. He said it was very risky task.