The farmers of Punjab received a great bonanza from SAD-BJP government as Punjab State Power Corporation Limited approved new Agriculture Pumpset policy sanctioning 75,000 new Agriculture Pumpsets, meeting their long pending demand.
Disclosing this here today Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister, said that in a major step to clear the backlog of tube well connections under the new policy 25,000 connections would be released in General Scheme whereas 50,000 additional connections would be released in Accelerated Release of Tube Well Connections (ARTC) scheme. He said that till date the SAD-BJP government has released 182589 tube well connections during last four years and with the release of 75,000 connections, 257589 connections would be released in the tenure of this government that would be the highest number of connections released by any government in its tenure. Mr. Badal said that the release of 75000 connections in a single year would be the largest number of connections released by any government during single calendar year. The Spokesman said that presently there were 14 lakh tube well connections installed in the state, out of which 1143267 connections were operated with Power connections.
Giving out the details of the scheme, Mr. Badal said that over 15,000 connections would be released to the General Category whereas 7500 connections would be provided to priority categories and 45,000 connections would be release under ARTC scheme.
Emphasising on giving priority to the small and marginal farmers, Mr. Badal clarified that the applicants with land holding up to 5 acre would be given 30% connections whereas other 30% would be given to those having land above 5 acres and remaining 30% would be given to priority categories including Martyrs of Kargil War, Operation Rakshak, J&K Insurgency, Gallantry Awardees, Scheduled Castes, Oustees, Ex-Servicemen, Kandi areas etc. He said that apart from these 75000 numbers additional AP Connections have also been planned for Sem Area, Drip/Micro Sprinkler System, Gram Panchayat, Religious Institutions, Gaushalas, Harijan Farmers Co-operative Society without cut- off date. It would be over and above the fixed annual target of 2011-12.
Mr. Badal said that the eligible AP Applicants would be allotted connections as per seniority and normal service connections charges @ Rs 3600 per BHP would be charged from the general category consumers. He clarified that however those seeking out of turn release of connections/load/demand will pay actual cost of release of connections or PSERC prescribed per BHP/KW/KVA service connection charges, whichever is higher.
Mr. Badal said that this scheme may be opened upto 31.12.1992 first having pending application 61116 Nos. for two weeks and if the response is less than target, it will be extended upto 31.12.1994 having total pending applications 90817 for another two weeks and still short of target, we may extend it upto 31.12.1996 having total pending applications 108705 for another two weeks. The scheme may close within six weeks from its start to enable timely floating of tenders etc. He said that the applications/ option under proposed ARTC scheme shall be available to applicants already registered under General Category & pending for issue of Demand Notice. He added that the connections under ARTC shall be released on turnkey basis through open tender process or departmentally. The material conforming to standard specification of PSPCL will be purchased/ procured by the Contractors from approved suppliers of PSPCL and the release of Tubewell connections under the policy shall commence after July/Aug. 2011.
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