Govt collects only Rs 122 crore for clearing Rs 20,000 crore power bills

Mumbai: Attempts at clearing agricultural power arrears to the tune of over Rs 20,000 crore are not meeting with much success. Out of the more than 37 lakh farmers who are defaulters, 3.14 lakh applied for the “CM Krishi Sanjeevani Scheme” and paid Rs 122 crore. Energy minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Wednesday extended the facility to more farmers by declaring that Rs 3,000 to Rs 5,000 would be accepted as token amount from those willing to join the scheme.

Mahavitaran Company is in a serious financial crunch because of arrears of more than Rs 32,000 crore, of which more than Rs 20,000 crore belong to the agricultural sector. Out of 40 lakh agricultural pump consumers, 37 lakh farmers are not paying their bills. Under the “CM Krishi Sanjeevani scheme”, farmers have to pay only the principal amount in five installments in one year, with Mahavitaran waiving off the fine and interest. The principal amount in arrears is approximately Rs 11,000 crore and the fine and interest is more than Rs 9,000 crore. The time extension to participate in the scheme will be over by the end of November and the government has granted a stay on disconnecting power supply of agricultural pumps on account of pending bills.

Mr Bawankule on Wednesday reviewed the scheme and discussed various issues with the president of the state power consumers’ association, Pratap Hogade.

There are several complaints about inflated power bills. Mr Bawankule on Wednesday directed Mahavitaran officials to correct faulty bills of farmers who will pay a token amount. Mr Bawankule said, “Our officers will inspect the power feeder and verify bills of farmers. We will correct the bills, if they are found faulty.”

Both the state government and Mahavitaran officials are trying hard to recover arrears from farmers. Senior officers of Mahavitaran said that they were hoping to get a good response by the end of this month.