VISAKHAPATNAM: The direct benefit transfer (DBT) scheme being implemented in the farming sector on a pilot basis in Srikakulam district has saved nearly 33% of the total electricity consumption in the 2021-22 financial year. Under the DBT scheme, electricity meters have been installed for agricultural connections.
According to the official statistics released by the energy department, 101.5 million units (MU) of electricity were consumed by the 26,083 agricultural connections in Srikakulam district in the 2020-21 financial year.
The number of connections increased to 28,393 in 2021-2022. But the consumption was limited to 67.76 MU. This translates to a saving of 34 million units of electricity during the last fiscal.
Now, the energy department is gearing up to extend the scheme all over the state. The power utilities received consent from the farmers to install meters for 15.99 lakh agricultural connections against the targeted 16.34 lakh.
During a telephonic review meeting conducted by state energy minister Peddireddi Ramachandra Reddy on the power supply situation to the agriculture sector, the officials explained that the objective of installing meters is to know the efficiency of power lines and transformers and improve supply infrastructure.
“The energy demand for agriculture sector in 2018-19 stood at 10,832 MU. This increased to 12,720 MU in 2021-22, clocking a 17.42% increase. The agricultural demand for this financial year is projected at 13,194 MU,” the officials told the minister.
Ramachandra Reddy said that the state government took every step to safeguard the interests of farmers under the DBT scheme. “The ultimate objective of the government is to ensure free power for all the farmers for the next 25 years. This has been planned in a bid to improve their living standards. The government is ready to bear any expenditure for the free power scheme,” the minister added.
The minister also asked the power utilities to take initiative to open escrow bank accounts for farmers to extend the DBT scheme benefits to them. He also emphasised the need to spread awareness about the purpose of meters to agriculture connections.
