The Hindu : Opinion / Letters to the Editor : Free power

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Wednesday, Jun 01, 2005

Opinion

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Free power

The Prime Minister has said in no uncertain terms that free power to farmers is a major obstacle to self-reliance. It is a principle of economics that a free product cannot be put to rational use.

A basic test for providing freebies is to compare their socio-economic costs with benefits. If free power to farmers leads to an increase in agricultural production or achieves equality in the distribution of income or any other socio-economic objective, it may be justified.

However, if the provision fails to yield any benefit and only entails huge costs in terms of depleting water resources and creating ecological imbalance, it must be immediately withdrawn.

Janak Raj Gupta,
Patiala, Punjab

* * *

Here is a suggestion: provide 30 and 60 units of free power to all urban and rural households, which have metered connections. The cost of free supply can be distributed equitably among those who consume more power. It will please the Left and also avoid burdening the exchequer.

P.V. Maiya,
Bangalore

* * *

It is doubtful if anything much can be done to alter the existing scenario, given the compulsions of coalition politics. Before implementing any drastic measure such as withdrawal of free power, the Government should explore alternative sources of energy for irrigation, which include development of LPG- or CNG-based engines to pump groundwater, and solar power-based pumps of small capacity. It should also look at repairing and reusing dilapidated lakes and other waterbodies. Irrigation and water resources management should be classified under infrastructure development and given top priority.

K. Venkataraman,
Chennai

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