Ryots forced to take up cottage units connections: Activist

CHENNAI: Farmers who are waiting for decades to get a free power supply connection are being asked to pay tariffs under the cottage and tiny industries category if they wanted to get a power connection for agricultural purposes until they get a free connection.

Activist S Neelakanta Pillai has filed a petition with the Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission (TNERC) seeking clarification on the rights of agricultural consumers and the accountability of Tangedco.

The activist said that classifying farmers into two different tariffs for the same agricultural purpose is against natural justice. “If the waitlisted farmer wanted power immediately for agriculture, they would be given a connection under the cottage and tiny industries tariff category as against the agricultural tariff category,” he said.

“For agricultural purposes, LT tariff IV has been classified in the schedule of tariff approved by the Commission exclusively for this purpose. In addition to the above, one more tariff has also been classified for agricultural purposes as LT tariff IIIA (1) (cottage and tiny industries) with so many conditions to restrict the usage by agricultural users.

The only difference between LT IIIA (1) and LT IV is, the latter is a fully subsidised category and the former is the payment category. The very peculiar approach by the licensee (Tangedco) as well as the Commission is restricting the farmers from availing this metered service for agricultural purposes on payment at Rs 4.46 per unit as fixed in LT Tariff IV,” Neelakanta Pillai said.

Under the LT tariff IV, which is fully subsidised, the commission has determined a fixed charge of Rs 3,250 per annum per HP for unmetered agricultural connections and Rs 4.46 per unit for metered agricultural supply. In the LT IIIA (1), the Commission has fixed a tariff of Rs 4.50 per unit up to 500 units and Rs 6.50 per unit above 501 units besides a fixed charge of Rs 70 per month per HP.

Tamil Nadu Vivasaigal Sangam president P Shanmugham said that the government is misusing the desperation of the farmers. “After delaying power connection for years, Tangedco is forcing the farmers to opt for a non-subsidised power connection. The farmers are forced to give up subsidised connections and avail power supply after paying charges,” he said.

A senior Tangedco official said that they were providing supply to waitlisted ryots under the cottage and tiny industries tariff as per the TNERC tariff order.