In a far-reaching decision that will benefit farmers as well as domestic and commercial users of power, Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Tuesday ordered a nearly 50 per cent reduction in the service connection charges for extension of load.
Necessary directions have been issued to the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL), with farmers benefitting to the tune of Rs 150 crores and domestic or commercial consumers to the tune of Rs 50 crores.
“PSPCL had submitted a petition to the Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC), following which a Voluntary Disclosure Scheme (VDS) has been launched for extension of load by farmers for tubewell motors, and for household and commercial load from August 27 to October 31, 2019,” said a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office.
The spokesperson said that as per the VDS for extension of load, farmers would have to now deposit Rs 2,500 per BHP (brake horse power) instead of the existing prescribed rate of Rs 4,750 per BHP, that is for extension of load of tube well motor by five BHP, farmers would now have to pay Rs 11,250 less.
Domestic consumers will have to pay SCC rate of Rs 225 to Rs 885 only as against the existing load-wise Service Connection Charges of Rs 1000 to Rs 1600, while commercial consumers would have to now pay SCC rates of Rs 500 to Rs 800 only.
The Chief Minister has further instructed that wherever farmers or consumers come forward for extension in load, suitable augmentation of power infrastructure, including transformer and lines, should be carried out on priority.
Flood-affected farmers to be provided with 25,000 quintal seeds. In another significant decision, the Punjab State Seeds Corporation will provide approximately 25,000 quintal high quality seed of the wheat crop to the flood hit farmers, for upcoming Rabi season.
As per the initial crop damage reports, 100 percent crop damage has been reported in about 25,000 hectares of farm land.
“Going by an average, nearly one quintal seed is required per hectare. So, the State Government has made an arrangement to provide 25,000 quintals of seed through PUNSEED. Further, seed disbursement, if required, would be made subject to the final damage report,” said the government spokesperson.
Extending a major relief to the farmers of the flood affected villages on the directions of the Chief Minister, the high quality seed of the wheat crop which costs around Rs 3000 per quintal, taking the cost of initial seed requirement to the tune of Rs 7.50 crore, will be provided free of cost to the affected farmers.
Spokesperson said that the basic motive of this gesture is to extend a helping hand to the farmers in this hour of crisis. The farmers would be provided high yielding varieties of seed as besides their standing crops, the flood water also destroyed the seeds stored by the food growers for the ensuing Rabi season, added the spokepserson.
The decision would benefit the farmers of about 30 villages of Shahkot subdivision of Jalandhar district which submerged in the flood water.
“The State Government is fully sensitive towards the plight of the farmers in the marooned villages and extend all help to them,” said the spokesperson adding that the Agriculture Department would provide crop damage compensation to the farmers after the loss is ascertained in special girdawari.
Necessary directions have been passed on to the Agriculture Department for ensuring this relief to the farmers, added the spokesperson.