Farmers to get 10-hour power supply for irrigation: CM

Bhopal: Side by side 24X7 power supply to domestic consumers, 10-hour power will be supplied to farmers for irrigation – 6 hours in day and 4 hours in the night. This was informed at a review meeting of Energy Department chaired by Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan here today. Energy Minister Shri Rajendra Shukla and Chief Secretary Shri R. Parasuram also attended the meeting.
Chief Minister Shri Chouhan directed to ensure constant monitoring of 24X7 power supply. Top priority should be attached to consumers’ satisfaction. Under-construction power projects should be completed within time-limit. Ideal situation of changing out-of-order transformers immediately should be created. Information about flat rate scheme for power bill payment should be disseminated to every farmer. Chief Minister Shri Chouhan said that people should be totally satisfied with power supply . He lauded efforts of the department to ensure 24X7 power supply. He said that this will increase development and prosperity in the state.
It was informed at the meeting that power supply has increased by 11 percent during year 2012-13 and will increase 29 percent in year 2013-14. Power generation capacity has increased by 1052 MW during the year 2012-13 and will increase further by 4467 MW in the year 2013-14. Installed power generation capacity was 10 thousand 480 MW during the last year which will increase to 14 thousand 834 MW in year 2014. The department will spend Rs. 1559 crore 18 lakh on strengthening transmission system during 2014. The department has chalked out breakdown maintenance strategy under which training will be imparted to linemen in every power division. As many as 959 camps have been held under Flat Rate Scheme during which 45 thousand 347 agriculture consumers have been benefited.
Additional Chief Secretary Finance Shri Ajay Nath, Principal Secretary Energy Shri Mohammad Sulaiman and other departmental officers were also present on the occasion.