Punjab Government has incurred Rs1,600 crores to purchase electricity for the paddy season.
With all arrangements in place for the paddy cultivation in the State starting from Monday, June 10, the Punjab Government has made special efforts to ensure non-stop eight-hour electricity supply to the farmers. Besides, the arrangements of desirable pesticides and fertilizers have also been made by the state government.
“Keeping in view the paddy cultivation, Rs1,600 crore has been incurred to purchase the electricity for the paddy season. Farmers would daily get electricity supply for eight hours with effect from June 10,” said an official spokesperson of the Punjab Government. He said that Punjab, at present, has managed to generate 3600 MW electricity from all its resources whereas the demand is of 8900 MW electricity during the current season of paddy cultivation.
“Punjab State Power Corporation limited (PSPCl) has been purchasing the surplus power required for paddy cultivation by incurring Rs 1,600 crore. Out of the total procurement of power, 1950 MW electricity is being purchased for shorter time period, whereas 3350 MW electricity would be procured for longer time period,” he added.
He said that instructions have been issued to the Executive Engineers and SDOs to ensure the smooth electricity supply. He said the Canal Department has also completed all arrangement for the irrigation purpose.
The spokesman further said that the Punjab Government in order the check the depletion of ground water and considering the unpredictability of monsoons have fixed June 10 as the date for the commencement of paddy cultivation whereas the saplings for paddy cultivation are prepared from May 1. He said that during the current season, 27.50 lakh hectare areas would be covered under paddy cultivation, against 28.18 lakh hectare during the previous season.
“In a bid to promote the crop diversification, Punjab Government has been persuading the farmers to cultivate other profitable crops like sugarcane, maize, cotton etc. Due to the efforts of the state government, an area of 68,000 hectare has been pulled out of the paddy cultivation in one year whereas the areas under direct paddy cultivation has been increased by two and half fold in one year,” he added.
He said that last year, direct paddy cultivation was done on an area of 20,000 hectare and this year this area has been fixed at 50,000 hectare.