HYDERABAD: The deadline for fixing capacitors on agriculture pumpsets has been extended by a month till June 30. This the third time the deadline has been extended.

The Government first wanted to give a week's grace period to farmers who have not yet fitted these energy-saving devices, but finalised extension for a month. "The ultimate aim is to achieve cent per cent compliance so that no farmer will be deprived of free power supply," said Energy Minister Mohd. Ali Shabbir.

So far, farmers have installed capacitors on 17.81 lakh out of 22.49 lakh pumpsets in the State, a 79.21 per cent achievement.

Almost full compliance has been achieved in coastal Andhra, which, however, accounts for only 3.9 lakh pumpsets while several districts in Telangana and Rayalaseema have been found lagging. Telangana has the largest number of 13.7 lakh pumpsets followed by Rayalaseema with 4.7 lakhs.

Lowest compliance

Among the districts, Warangal reported the lowest compliance -- 41.97 per cent. The other districts below the State average include Karimnagar (63.8 per cent), Nellore (64.67 per cent), Kurnool (66.71 per cent), Anantapur (73 per cent) and Chittoor (74.1 per cent).

Meanwhile, AP Transco and the distribution companies have begun implementing single-phase round-the-clock power supply to domestic sector on an experimental basis. This follows the steep fall in the base load due to rains.

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