No proposal for free power to farmers

The Government on Tuesday told the Assembly that it has no proposal to provide power to farmers free of cost in line with Tamil Nadu. "As per information available from the Agriculture Department, there is no proposal to provide power free of cost to farmers on behalf of the department," Energy Minister Pranab Prakash Das said in a written reply to a question by Tara Prasad Bahinipati (Congress).

Das informed that farmers are being provided power at a subsidised rated of Rs1.10 per unit in order to boost agricultural production. He, however, said if the Union Government makes a special provision in this regard, only then the State Government would request the Centre for special assistance for the purpose.