Farmers told to regularise power supply to IP sets

Owners of irrigation pump (IP) sets, who have been drawing electricity illegally, have to get the supply regularised by submitting applications and paying fee to the energy supply companies, before March 31. The supply would be disconnected to those who do not fall in line.

This was announced by Energy Minister D K Shivakumar while interacting with reporters on Thursday.

Power has been illegally drawn to 3.30 lakh pump sets. Farmers of 86,809 IP sets have to remit money to the power utilities to get the supply regularised. Of these, 57,491 sets have been regularised, he said.

Owners of the rest of the 2.35 lakh illegal pump sets have to deposit Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 as fees before March 31. Those who fail to be obey the rule would lose power supply, Shivakumar warned.

He also said that transformer banks have been opened in 174 taluks and repair centres have been established in 107 taluks. Defunct transformers, which are connected to IP sets, must be repaired within three days and TCs which are related to drinking water have to repaired within 24 hours.

There is demand for one lakh TCs and at present there are 30,000 available, he stated.  
The government is contemplating the Chhattisgarh power project of Karnataka in association with National Thermal Power Corporation. The energy department has  invested Rs 2 crore for this project so far. The government has no intention of getting associated with private companies to implement this work, he added.

Viability of solar sets

There are doubts regarding the viability of solar IP sets. If the producers give at least 15 to 20 years guarantee of supplying power, then alone the government would show interest in purchasing power, Shivakumar said.

The minister said solar lights have not been functioning effectively. “If the same thing happens to solar IP sets, then what should farmers do? Each solar IP set costs Rs 6.5 lakh. Unless it comes with guarantee, they can’t be purchased,” he said.
DH News Service