The Hindu Business Line : Big farmers likely to be excluded from free power in AP

The State Government is contemplating to slightly modify its scheme of free power supply to the farm sector so as to exclude big farmers, who are income-tax assesses, from its purview, according to sources.

In an informal meeting with some of his Cabinet colleagues on Wednesday, the Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, is understood to have elicited their views in this regard. The issue is expected to figure again in the next Cabinet meeting slated for January 3.

The Finance Minister, Mr K. Rosaiah, however, said that no decision was taken with regard to modification of the free power supply scheme.

"There will not be any drastic changes in the scheme," he asserted at a press conference here on Wednesday.

The Chief Minister had convened a meeting of the representatives of various political parties and farmers' organisations on Tuesday to elicit their views on free power supply scheme.

Diverse views were expressed at the meeting, which were being examined by the Government.

Seeks more time to submit report

Meanwhile, it is learnt that the Government has sought an additional time of 15 days to submit its report on free power scheme to the AP Electricity Regulatory Commission.

As per schedule, the Government had to submit its report on Thursday.

According to a note circulated by the State Energy Department, free power supply to the farm sector during the last six months has given rise to many unexpected developments such as increase in unauthorised connections and a steep rise in the level of power consumption leading to grid disturbances.

After the announcement of free power supply by the ruling Congress Government, unauthorised agricultural connections have reached 3.51 lakh.

The excessive stress put on the grid by unauthorised agricultural consumers had prompted various think-tanks in the State to suggest ways of tackling the situation.

To check this menace, the State Government is also contemplating to give one-lakh new agricultural connections annually.

Stating that corporate and big farmers could afford to pay the electricity charges, suggestions were also made that the free power supply scheme should be limited to small and marginal farmers.

As per the Energy Department's estimates, 36 per cent of the total power supplied in the State during 2003-04 was consumed by the agricultural sector while the domestic and industrial sectors accounted for 21 per cent and 28 per cent, respectively.

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