Discontinue free supply to Agriculture- R V Shahi

Vinod Kumar Gupta, 25-Mar-2011

Friday March 25, 2011

Chandigarh

Free power to agriculture should be discontinued and metered supply must be ensured so as to avoid wasteful consumption, according to R V Shahi former Power Secretary

In absence of metering, it would not be possible to correctly
determine the quantum of power consumed by agriculture. This was one main reason why a lot of stress
was put on separating out the agriculture feeders from the domestic supply so that the quantum of power supplied to

agriculture could be determined accurately.

Shahi told the gathering at seminar that when consumption is not metered and charged there is no incentive on part on the consumer to install more efficient pump sets. Free power also result in over exploitation of groundwater and reduction of water table. Free power causes uncontrolled consumption and results in financial strain.

Shahi informed that when he assumed charge as secretary power in 2002 only 3 States were having free power: Punjab, Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Shahi stated he took up the case
for ending free power with all three States and free power was
discontinued then.