Power connections of 2.24 lakh agricultural pumps approved

MUMBAI: The Maharashtra cabinet on Tuesday approved Rs 5,048 crore for electricity connections of over two lakh agricultural pumps. The connections had been pending despite farmers having paid for them. In addition, the government plans to install 5,000 community-based solar pumps till 2019 and work has already been started at 200 substations of MAHAGENCO.

On the subject of approving pending electricity connections of 2.24 lakh agricultural pumps, energy minister Chandrashekhar Bavankule said, “The decision will benefit farmers who had paid the fees but did not get electricity connections. The agricultural pumps will get a high voltage distribution system allowing farmers to have uninterrupted electricity supply. There will be less loss of power, and technical problems will be reduced to the minimal.”

The MAHAGENCO has sought a loan of Rs 2,500 crore for the scheme with government guarantee. Under the scheme, Vidarbha will get 49,154 pumps; Marathwada 47,390 pumps; Konkan 5,077 pumps; northern Maharashtra 52,969 pumps; and western Maharashtra 70,195 pumps, the minister said.

About the plan to install 10,000 solar pumps in the state, Mr Bavankule said that 5,700 had already been installed so far. “Now, the government has decided to have feeder-based solar pumps instead of individual pumps. So, we will install solar pumps at 200 sub-stations of the MAHAGENCO. They will generate 0.5 mw to one mw of electricity. One mw of electricity serves nearly 300 farmers. Such efforts are underway at places such as Ralegan Siddhi, Kolanbi, Nashik, Nagpur etc.,” he said.

About agricultural pump dues, Mr Bavankule admitted that amnesty schemes were of no help. “There are agricultural electricity bill arrears of Rs 22,000 crore, of which Rs 13,000 is the principal amount. Despite amnesty schemes and waiving off interest and fines on the principal amount, the response has been only 8 per cent,” he said.