The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Critics suggest alternatives to free power

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Sep 13, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Critics suggest alternatives to free power

By T. Ramakrishnan

CHENNAI, SEPT. 12. While proponents of the free power scheme in Tamil Nadu say it is the only `concession' extended to farmers, critics have suggested alternatives.

``Free power should not be given indiscriminately to everyone. There are different ways of helping needy agriculturists,'' says D. S. Hanumatha Rao, former member, Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission (TNERC).

``Free power should be seen as an essential input to agricultural production and not from the angle of financial health of State Electricity Boards,'' says M. R. Sivasamy, leader, Tamizhaga Vivasayeegal Sangam (Tamil Nadu Farmers' Association). For agriculturists not getting water supply from dams or canals, this is the "only support" from the Government.

When returns from farming are not commensurate with input costs, free power is the `concession' that the agriculturists get and that too, without any intervention, says A. P. Kalyanam, general secretary, Federation of Farmers' Associations of Thanjavur, Nagapattinam and Tiruvaur districts.

Soft loans during distress

An energy expert feels that the State Government can think of providing soft loans to farmers in times of drought or severe economic distress. But, free power, as a matter of policy, should not be pursued as some parts of the State, particularly the western districts, have witnessed groundwater levels going down sharply. ``Even in the new Cauvery delta covering parts of Tiruvarur and Pudukottai districts, the groundwater situation is alarming,'' notes S. Ranganathan, general secretary, Cauvery Delta Farmers' Welfare Association.

Also, the expert refers to a study carried out last year by the State Agriculture Department, which revealed that over 60 per cent of agricultural pumpsets were ``old and inefficient.''

At the end of the financial year 2003-04, the State had 17.2 lakh agricultural pumpsets.

Of them, about 1.5 lakhs come under the self-financing scheme and connections are given on the condition of paying the power bills.

Misuse

One major criticism against provision of free power is its misuse. ``Do you think it is possible without connivance of the officials,'' wonders Dr. Sivasamy. A senior official of the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB) denies any such suggestion and asks when the EB staff does not have to visit the premises of agriculturists for meter reading, where is the question of connivance.

Dr. Sivasamy says free power should not be given up only on the grounds of `misuse' and `falling groundwater table.' If interlinking of rivers and augmentation of water resources are done, such problems will not arise.

As regards alternative ways of supporting the farmers, Mr. Rao says that decentralised biogas units can be established and power supplied to agriculturists. Hydropower can be supplied to farmers.

The Government should also carry out a survey, covering landholders, their water requirement and cropping pattern.

In an e-mail interview with The Hindu , the Union Planning Commission Member (Energy and Water), Kirit Parikh, too agrees that the State should provide relief to farmers under severe stress. ``Free power forever, however, is not justifiable,'' he says.

Conceding that it does not make sense for farmers to pay for electricity while canal water is heavily subsidised, Dr. Parikh, however, recommends that appropriate price should be fixed for the canal water too.

He suggests that Rs. 1,000 be provided to each farmer a year towards irrigation charges so that they use it efficiently and economically.

``Such a system would make State Electricity Boards economically sound and ensure electricity supply in the country which would benefit all.''

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu