Bihar CM Nitish Kumar orders uninterrupted supply of power to farmers 16 hours a day

PATNA: Fearing a drought like situation in many parts of the state, CM Nitish Kumar on Wednesday asked officials to ensure uninterrupted supply of electricity to farmers for 16 hours a day.
“The irrigation works become cheaper for farmers due to continuous availability of electricity,” he said while chairing a meeting of officials to review the situation created due to less rainfall in the state. The meeting was held at ‘Samvad’ hall of the CM residence.
Stressing the need for a block-wise assessment of the situation created due to insufficient rainfall in the current monsoon, the CM further asked the officials to maintain a constant vigil on the situation created due to scanty rainfall and be prepared to provide all sorts of assistance to farmers.
He also asked the officials to make plans to provide all necessary assistance to the farmer in case of drought.
The CM also asked the officials to expedite the work of providing diesel subsidy to farmers under the diesel subsidy scheme. “Also ensure fast disbursal of subsidy amount to those applicants who are yet to receive the subsidy,” Nitish said.
State government pays Rs 75 per litre as diesel subsidy to the farmers.
Stating that his government was committed to provide all possible assistance to farmers, Nitish further asked the water resources department officials to provide additional facilities of irrigation to farmers to protect the paddy seedlings.
He further asked the agriculture department officials to take necessary steps to ensure ‘alternative cropping’ in the areas affected by less rainfalls.
Earlier, the disaster management department’s secretary Sanjay Kumar Agarwal informed the CM that altogether 212 blocks, out of total 534, were affected by less rainfall till July 20. “But now, the number of such blocks has reduced to 123,” Agarwal said at the meeting.
Agarwal, who is also the secretary of the water resources department, further informed the CM that the farmers were being provided waters for irrigation purposes through Koshi and Gandak canal system in north Bihar and the Sone canal system in south Bihar. Farmers in Lakhisarai district are being provided waters for irrigation purposes through Harohar river.
State’s chief secretary Amir Subhani, the principal secretary to the CM Deepak Kumar, additional advisor to the CM Manish Kumar Verma and several other senior officers were present at the review meeting.