Free power helping farmers protect crops: Balineni
Vijayawada: Energy minister Balineni Srinivasa Reddy on Thursday said nine hours of free power supply to farm sector has given confidence to farmers about protecting their crops.
Reviewing with officials power supply situation in the state, especially to agriculture sector, he said seeing the success of free power supply, state government is intending to make the scheme permanent in future.
The minister said keeping farmers in mind, the state government is redefining its priorities, giving special emphasis to free power for agriculture, power to aquaculture at subsidised rates, irrigation facilities, financial support under Rythu Bharosa, zero-interest farm loans and free crop insurance.
“We are hopeful that these series of initiatives taken up by state government will bring a great change in rural areas and to lives of people in villages,” he stated.
Srinivasa Reddy maintained that this is just the beginning for transforming the rural economy in all 13 districts of the state.
Energy secretary N. Srikant said the state government is spending nearly ₹ 8,400 crore per year to supply more than 12,000 MU of power free of cost to nearly 18 lakh agriculture consumers in the state. Another ₹ 1,700 crore have been on 6,663 agricultural feeders, so that they are capable of supplying nine hours of three phase power supply during day time to agriculture services.
