Maharashtra government promises to re-connect power supply if farmers pay two pending bills

PUNE: Maharashtra government decided to re-connect power supply of those farmers who will pay the electricity bill of first two trimesters from April 2012. The state electricity distribution authority, Mahavitaran had cut power supply of many agricultural pumps as the dues of Rs 8,508 crore have to be recovered from farmers.

Of the five trimester bills issued between April 2012 to June 2013, paying bills of first two trimester, will make the farmer eligible to get back his power connection. In a meeting of the state cabinet, it was decided that those farmers, that those farmers, who pay the first two bills, should be allowed to pay the remaining dues in October, November and December.

The dues of a farmer having a 5 horse power agricultural pump, from April 2012 to June 2013 are about Rs 8,250, while the dues of the farmer having 3 horse power agricultural pump are about Rs 4,230 for the same period. The state cabinet will take a decision about the electricity dues before March 12 at a later date.