HC questions state on free electricity to rich farmers

Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, May 20

The Punjab and Haryana High Court today questioned Punjab and Haryana governments on free or subsidised power on agricultural pump sets to rich farmers during the hearing of two petitions filed in public interest on the issue.

“Why free or subsidised power be given on agricultural pump sets to rich farmers?” Chief Justice Krishna Murari questioned on behalf of the Bench. The petitions filed by advocate Hari Chand Arora were seeking directions to Punjab and Haryana for exclusion of rich and affluent farmers from the scheme for providing total power subsidy for agricultural pump sets.

As the matter came up for resumed hearing, Chief Justice Murari was apparently not convinced with the argument that rich consumers were being asked to voluntarily give up subsidy. The Chief Justice then minced no words to say: “Subsidy should be for the needy and not for rich and affluent farmers.”

Referring to the total subsidy amount of Rs 7,000 crore approximately, Chief Justice Murari further observed: “The burden of such subsidy falls on all the tax payers.” Faced with the situation, the law officers of both the states sought adjournment for reconsidering the entire issue of power subsidy to rich farmers before filing appropriate affidavits in the matter.

‘81.52% beneficiaries medium, large farmers’

• A recent study by eminent agriculture economist RS Ghuman had highlighted that 81.52% of the free farm electricity beneficiaries in Punjab are medium and large farmers and only 18.48% are small and marginal ones (having landholding of less than 5 acres). 
• Of 13.51 lakh (power-operated) tubewells, only 89,212 (6.6%) are with marginal farmers (having less than 2.5 acres) and 1,60,581 (11.88%) are with small farmers.