Clear pending agriculture connections: Energy Minister to officials

Amaravati: Minister for Energy Kala Venkata Rao has directed the power DISCOMS to clear pending agriculture applications. In response to the news report appeared in these columns on April 23 stating that 1.82 lakh agriculture connections are pending, the Energy department released a note on Tuesday.

The number of pending applications still stands as above 1.82 lakh and 74,959 paid cases have also been in pending. The Energy department said the Minister directed Discoms to clear off pending agricultural applications numbering to 74,959 during this year (2018-19), irrespective of additional capital expenditure and additional subsidy.

It also said the State government was ensuring 7 hours free power supply to agriculture and 24x7 power supply to other consumer categories. This was regularly being monitored on line by the respective Discoms.

The Minister also advised APSPDCL CMD M MNayak, and APEPDCL CMD H YDora to implement free power policy for nurseries on par with agriculture. The state government waived all pending dues towards power supply to the nurseries, the Minister said.

Aqua hatcheries and aqua feed mixing plants were given a big relief in this year’s tariff orders by reducing unit charges from Rs.6.71 to Rs.4.89, he said.

The Minister held a teleconference on Tuesday during which he had given instruction on clearing of agriculture connections, 7 hours power supply to agriculture and wanted to maintain sufficient coal reserves during the present summer and ensure thermal units are run to their rated capacity to meet the increased demand.