Govt aims to give a boost to agriculture sector and build a permanent and robust system to supply free power to farmlands
- 9 hours free power scheme given an assurance to farmers to protect their crops, says Minister for Energy Peddireddi Ramachandra Reddy
- Free power scheme helps to boost Agricultural productivity, enhance rural economy
- Chief Minister strongly believe in that State will move towards progress only if the farmers are happy
- Govt. wants to make free power as a permanent scheme to support farmers in future
- Govt. given guarantee for reliable power supply to farmers for next 25 years
- The SECI will start supplying 3,000 MW from September 2024 in the first tranche
- Agricultural pump sets are likely to use an average of 12,000 MU of energy per year and its value is estimated at Rs 8400 crore.
With an aim to give a boost to agriculture sector and build a permanent and robust system to supply free power to farmlands, the State government is taking series of steps to strengthen the ‘Dr YSR 9 hours day time free power supply scheme’ to ensure free power to farmers for the next 25 years in order to making agriculture a profitable activity and empower farmers.
On the eve of Sankranthi which is the festival of farmers, the Energy Minister Peddireddi Ramachandra Reddy held a telephonic review with power sector officials on the general power supply position in the State particularly the agriculture sector and said that the 9 hours free power scheme had given a bharosa (assurance/ security) to farmers to protect their crops and would definitely help to make agriculture as the most valuable activity. It would help to boost agriculture productivity, enhance rural economy in all regions and help total development of Andhra Pradesh.
Minister also said that the Andhra Pradesh has taken bold and wise decision to procure power from SECI (Solar Energy Corporation of India) to the tune of 7000 MW at a cost effective rate of Rs.2.49/- per unit. The state government has given guarantee for reliable power supply to farmers for next 25 years. The SECI will start supplying 3,000 MW from September 2024 in the first tranche, 3000 MW from September 2025 in the second tranche and 1000 MW from September 2026 in the third tranche.
“Government wants to make the free power scheme permanent to support farmers in the future and is also implementing initiatives such as power supply to aqua culture at a subsidy price, financial support and rythubharosa.These initiatives will bring a great change in rural areas and lives of farmers.The Chief Minister Y S Jaganmohan Reddy strongly believe in the fact that the State would move towards progress only if the farmers are happy” the energy minister said.
Keeping in view of the good rainfall in this year and substantial increase of ground water, the Minister hasadvised the power utilities to continue the same tempo in maintaining highly qualitative power toagricultural sector at the utmost satisfaction of the farmer.
Special Chief Secretary Energy, K Vijayanand informed that the State government is implementing direct benefit transfer(DBT) scheme for agricultural connections and installation of energy meters in order to improve the performance of DISCOMs and strengthening quality power supply to agriculture sector. As of now, the DISCOMs are supplying 12000 Million units per annum to agriculture for which governmentis bearing the subsidy ofRs 8400 Crore per annum.
The implementation of the DBT scheme for supply and installation of energy meters has been done in Srikakulam District of EPDCL as a Pilot Project with fixing of meters to 28,684 Nos Agriculture services. Presently, the state govt. is reimbursing the monthly billing amount related to agriculture consumption. The DISCOMs will continue the free power supply to the farmers, even if the payments are not received in time. Bank Accounts were opened in different banks for 16,38,650 Agricultural Services out of the total 16,67,389 Agricultural services existing under DBT.
Power sector officials explained the Energy Minister that 6652 feeders out of 6,770 feeders are capable of supplying 9 hrs day time agricultural power supply with existing infrastructure while the remaining 118 feeders need augmentation of infrastructure to cater the needs of supplying 9 hrs during day time.
MD APGENCO, B Sreedhar, JMD APTRANSCO, I PrudhviTej, CMDs of DISCOMs J Padma Janardhana Reddy and K Santosha Rao and other senior officials have participated.
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