Separate power supply for agriculture likely

In an attempt to provide uninterrupted power to agriculture sector in a particular time, the Centre is pushing to lay separate electricity distribution lines across the country.

In Gujarat, there are separated power distribution lines for agricultural and rural consumers and the Ministry of Power wanted to implement a similar system in other states.

The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has started collecting data on estimated expenditure and details of power consumption by farm sector from the states where such system is being implemented.

While some states, including Karnataka, have already started working on this, the government wants the system to be adopted all over the country. In Karnataka, out of the 9,500 feeders, around 400 feeders have separate lines for agriculture and other consumers, sources in the Ministry told Deccan Herald.

The aim of setting up separate power distribution infrastructure for agricultural and rural domestic consumers is to manage the demand-supply gap and ensure uninterrupted power to farmers in particular periods. Separate lines will help the sub station to cut power to some places and supply it to the desired consumer, either agriculture or domestic which is not possible in the existing system.

“Though this project involves huge cost – for laying lines, switchgears and transformers – the Ministry is consulting with the states in this regard,” said an official from the Ministry. He said those states which have implemented the system have funded the project on their own. In Gujarat, separate power distribution lines model was set up with the financial assistance from the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank.

There is an apprehension that more distribution lines may lead to increased power thefts and rise in maintenance costs. The Ministry is studying all these issues, he added.

Separate feeder line to farming not only helps agriculturists to get quality power at fixed time but also help to avoid leakages. It enables measurement of the power used for agricultural sector so as to arrive at the exact quantum of subsidy that needs to be reimbursed to the distribution companies, he said.