The State Government has decided to defer recovery of six-monthly electricity bill against farmers’ permanent pumps payable in April 2015 and dues as on March 31, 2015 from farmers whose over 50 per cent crops have been affected by hailstorm and excessive rains. Thus, they will get exemption from payment of electricity bills till March 2016. Directives in this regard have been issued to Madhya Pradesh Eastern, Central and Western Power Distribution Companies. No surcharge will be realised from such farmers from April 1, 2015 to April 1, 2016. If any due is outstanding against bill payable at that time in the first half-year billing cycle of financial year 2016-17 or any other dues till March 31, 2015, the amount will be recovered with payment of deferred bill in April 2016.
District collectors will release certified lists of affected farmers. Information about farmers’ connection numbers etc will be provided in the list by concerning superintending engineers of power distribution companies. Due to it, there would be no difficulty in identifying connection of affected farmers and they would get full benefit of government’s decision. Companies’ Managing Directors have been asked to direct concerning superintending engineers to receive these lists from district collectors at the earliest. They have been directed to intimate about action taken in this regard within 3 days.
