Rs 266 crore to clear agri-pumps backlog

Nagpur: The state cabinet at its meeting held in Mumbai on Tuesday decided to immediately disburse Rs266 crore for the ongoing project to clear backlog of electricity connections in Vidarbha and Marathwada regions.

The project to provide power connections to the two farm-distressed regions that rely excessively on rains or groundwater for irrigation was launched in 2015-16. The state-run Mahavitran had submitted a Rs916 crore for it. In last two years, 89,000 pumps have already been connected and in next one year, the plan is to connect another 80,000 pumps.

The cabinet also assured more funds as and when required. A provision of Rs495 crore is likely to be made in the state budget for 2017-18, a release from state power minister's office said. At the end of March this year, the total number of pending connections for which applicants had already paid requisite charges was put at 2.5 lakhs. The plan envisages speeding up of the backlog clearance. Farmers in the two regions have been waiting for years to get power lines for pumps in their farms.

In another decision, the state cabinet has approved a 25% hike in grants to 26 municipal corporations for providing public amenities. These will include street lighting, water supply schemes, public toilets, parks, waste disposal and creating green zones.

Meanwhile, in yet another decision, the cabinet responded favourably to 14 recommendations made by a committee set up to formulate the climate change policy in the state. Suitable changes will be made in village and city level developmental plans to factor in the climate changes like temperature rise, uncertain rains and to adopt disaster management plans.