3 weeks ago
Anbumani Ramadoss demands action on 60,000 pending farm power connections
Farmers in Tamil Nadu need electricity to run water pumps so they can water their crops.
The government has a special fast-track program, called the tatkal scheme, for giving them electricity connections.
Farmers who join this program have to pay a big deposit of money first.
A leader named Anbumani Ramadoss says more than 60,000 farmers have paid their deposits but are still waiting for electricity.
Some farmers have been waiting for more than eight months, even though the rules say it should take only 15 to 90 days.
Many farmers borrowed money to pay the deposits and now have to pay extra interest.
Without electricity, some farmers could not plant their crops during the Kuruvai growing season.
Anbumani is asking the state government to act quickly and give these farmers their electricity connections.
PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss urged the Tamil Nadu government to immediately clear pending agricultural electricity connections under the tatkal scheme.
He said 60,120 farmers who paid deposits are still awaiting connections, with total deposits collected estimated at around Rs 1,500 crore.
Anbumani alleged that none of the applicants from the latest round received connections even eight months after paying, despite TNPDCL norms requiring service within 15-90 days.
He noted that about 45 per cent of Tamil Nadu's agricultural land relies on groundwater, making irrigation power supply essential for cultivation.
He demanded that the government direct TNPDCL to expedite free electricity connections for all 60,120 pending applicants, citing farmers' mounting interest payments and missed Kuruvai season cultivation.
- Who
- Anbumani Ramadoss, president of the PMK party, and the Tamil Nadu government along with TNPDCL.
- What
- A demand to immediately clear 60,120 pending agricultural electricity connections under the tatkal scheme, amid allegations of delays causing financial distress to farmers.
- Where
- Tamil Nadu, India.
- When
- On Sunday, as reported in the article.
- Why
- Farmers who paid substantial deposits are still without irrigation power, leaving them unable to cultivate during the Kuruvai season and burdened with debt and interest payments.
Key facts
- Politician
- Anbumani Ramadoss (PMK president)
- Pending applicants
- 60,120 farmers
- Total farmers waiting
- More than 4 lakh across Tamil Nadu
- Deposits collected
- Around Rs 1,500 crore
- Latest tatkal applicants
- 47,554 farmers paying over Rs 1,250 crore
- 2023 scheme applicants
- 12,566 farmers paying over Rs 250 crore
- Deposit range
- Rs 2.50 lakh to Rs 4 lakh
- Stipulated timeframe
- 15 to 90 days after application
Sources
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