Chennai, October 25 — The Tamil Nadu government has approved 50,000 new agricultural electricity connections for this year, extending the state's free-power policy to thousands of farmers who have been waiting for supply for irrigation, IANS reported on Sunday.

Source: IANS via Hi India

The Energy Department has issued a government order authorising the Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (TNPDCL) to implement the programme. The approval follows a proposal submitted by the utility after Electricity Minister C.T.R Nirmal Kumar announced the initiative during the Assembly's budget session in August.

How the 50,000 connections are divided

Of the connections approved, 20,000 will be provided under the normal category, with the government meeting the entire cost. The largest share, 25,282 connections, has been allocated to the Tatkal fast-track scheme, which offers applicants a shorter waiting period. Another 3,372 connections will be issued through the self-financing scheme, under which farmers deposit the amount required for their sanctioned electricity load, and the remaining 1,346 will be provided under various government schemes.

Source: Nation Press

50,000new farm power connections approved
Rs 750 croreinstallation cost to be borne by TNPDCL (yaani about Rs 7.5 billion)
Rs 127.56 croreestimated consumption subsidy from the government (yaani about Rs 1.28 billion)
3 lakh+farmers still awaiting connections

The government will subsidise the recurring electricity consumption charges for the additional connections, estimated at Rs 127.56 crore — yaani about Rs 1.28 billion. TNPDCL will bear the installation expenditure, which is expected to be around Rs 750 crore, yaani about Rs 7.5 billion.

Tamil Nadu provides free electricity to agricultural consumers as a policy measure, compensating the distribution utility through government subsidies. Around 24 lakh agricultural electricity connections across the state currently benefit from the arrangement, even as more than 3 lakh farmers remain in the queue for a connection.

Reports on the government order said TNPDCL has also been asked to verify whether existing agricultural connections are being used for their intended purpose, as the state balances wider access for waiting farmers with checks on ineligible use.