Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, May 08, 2008
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Online edition of India's National Newspaper Thursday, May 08, 2008 ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version |
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Tamil Nadu
CHENNAI: Of the nearly 9000 MW electricity generated in the State, only 54 per cent is paid for by consumers, Electricity Minister Arcot N.Veeraswami informed the Assembly on Wednesday. He said during question hour that nearly 18 per cent of the electricity was lost in transmission, and the remaining provided free to farmers, schools and huts. AIADMK Whip K.A. Sengottaiyan said for agricultural operations, the Electricity Board was giving more supply during the night and less during the day. He sought more power during day time. Mr. Veeraswami said power was being supplied for agricultural use for six hours during the day and 12 hours during the night. This was not a practice the DMK government had started now. This was in vogue for the past two and a half decades. During day time, power had to be supplied to industries and hence, the present system would be maintained. Mr. Sengottaiyan said four lakh farmers had applied for free electricity and these applications were pending with the government. At the rate of 40,000 new connections each year, it would take the government a very long time to clear the backlog. He asked if the Minister would consider increasing the number to 50,000. Mr. Veeraswami said since there was significant financial commitment on this count, there was no chance of increasing the number. Fertilizer ‘shortage’Replying to a calling attention motion on soaring prices and unavailability of fertilizers, Agriculture Minister Veerapandi S. Arumugham said the State had adequate stock of fertilizers. It had 61,049 tonnes of urea, 32,000 tonnes of potash fertilizers and 5396 tonnes of DAP. The Agriculture Department had set up a committee to detect hoarding of fertilizers. Mr. Sengottaiyan said the prices of fertilizers had gone up substantially in the past year. They were not available in primary cooperative societies. K. Arumugham (PMK) said it was impossible to get DAP. V. Sivapunniyam (CPI) said when fertilizers were not available during the lean season, one could imagine the situation when farmers begin agricultural operations. N. Ramakrishnan (MDMK) said the scarcity had begun last year itself and the government had not taken any step to help farmers. Refutes allegationsMr. Arumugham refuted the allegations and said fertilizers would be distributed to farmers through primary cooperative societies.
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