The YSRCP government on Wednesday reiterated that the fixing of meters to agriculture power connections would no away affect the farmers or the free power supply to their crops, but was only aimed at bringing discipline in the system.
Retired IAS officer Ajeya Kallam, Principal Advisor to Chief Minister said that the main purpose of fixing meters was to bring in accountability to the farmers as well as power distribution companies.
“It gives a sense of feeling that the farmers pay for the power they consume and the Discoms know how much power is consumed,” he said.
He said the direct cash transfer system was to provide nine hours day time free power to farmers.
The money will be directly credited to farmers’ bank accounts for the power consumed by them in their fields and they, in turn, shall pay the power bills to the Discoms, he said.
Kallam said the smart meters had several advantages. Load on transformers can be determined with installation of meters and sub-stations can adjust to the requirements.
“The supply of electricity can be tracked by installing meter to motors and any problems identified in supply of electricity can be rectified. Short circuits and damages in transformers can be prevented in future by installing smart meters. Discoms will set up meters, switch, and earth wires and there will be no burden on the farmers,” he said.
“Farmers need not to pay any amount for this scheme. Farmers need not pay additional amount on any additional usage of power. No problems will be raised by using 7.5 HP or 10 HP motors and they will be regularized. Discoms will bear the cost even if the meters are short circuited, damaged or stolen. Discoms will bear the cost for the mechanism of reading meters. All unauthorized motors will be regularized,” he said.
Kallam said the discoms won’t disconnect the connections if there is delay in the payment of the charges and the payment will be done regularly. The tenant farmers won’t be having any problem by this scheme, he said and added the single farmer can have any number of connections and there is no limit on that.
