Farmers under debt, so power subsidy to continue Rana Gurjit

: Even as a recent research study by eminent economist RS Ghumman, professor at the Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development (CRRID), has shown that among total farmer beneficiaries of free electricity, only 18% are small and marginal farmers, state irrigation and power minister Rana Gurjit Singh has said that free power to the sector will continue.

The report had also documented that 81.52% of the free farm electricity beneficiaries in Punjab are medium and large farmers.

“I do not want to go into database of who is a beneficiary and who is not. Let me clarify that in Punjab, no farmer is rich. All farmers, either having marginal or large land holding, are under debt. Many studies have highlighted this. Both free power and farm loan waiver are part of our election promises. The Congress government will fulfil its promises,” the minister said, on the sidelines of a function in Rajpura on Friday.

He added that regardless of its financial condition, the Congress government will not withdraw free power to the agricultural sector.

“Agriculture is Punjab’s core sector and needs more investment and Central funding,” he added.

On being questioned on the delay in issuing the notification for supplying power to the

In Punjab, no farmer is rich. All farmers, either having marginal or large land holding, are under debt. Many studies have highlighted this. Free power and farm loan waiver are part of our election promises. The Congress govt will fulfil its promises. RANA GURJIT SINGH, irrigation and power minister

dised rate of ₹ 5 per unit, he said, “This is our commitment. The industry department has to clear the file, and it is with the chief minister. I cannot comment.”

He added he had no idea of what this measure will cost the state government.

However, sources said the government needed to pay Rs 2 800 crore to the PSPCL for the facing difficulty in clearance.

The minister claimed that the state was unable to implement even more beneficial schemes for consumers as the PSPCL had a loan of Rs 31,000 crore and the government had inherited this legacy from the previous regime.

“We are taking steps to reduce the expenditure of