Free three-phase electricity for 18 hours will continue for agricultural pump sets.
Chennai: The Tamil Nadu Electricity Board has strongly refuted reports claiming that the 18-hour daily free three-phase power supply provided to farmers for agricultural pump sets has been reduced to 14 hours. The Board clarified that such reports are entirely misleading and baseless, and that no changes have been made to the state government’s existing scheme.
In an official press release issued on Friday, the Electricity Board stated that farmers continue to receive 18 hours of free three-phase power daily, just as before, and this arrangement will continue unchanged. The Board urged farmers not to believe unverified and misleading information circulating on social media or other platforms, and to rely only on official information issued by the department.
The press release noted that reports had recently circulated in some media outlets claiming the duration of free electricity for agricultural pump sets had been cut from 18 hours to 14 hours. These reports caused confusion among farmers and led to queries being raised in several locations. In response, the Electricity Board issued an official statement to clarify the situation.
The Board stated that the Tamil Nadu government is committed to protecting the interests of farmers, and providing uninterrupted power to the agricultural sector is among its top priorities. A large number of farmers in the state use electric pump sets for irrigation; therefore, ensuring an adequate power supply is crucial for agricultural productivity and the irrigation system. It is with this objective that the existing free three-phase power scheme has been maintained.
According to the Electricity Board, the power distribution system is regularly monitored to ensure a steady supply to the agricultural sector. Whenever technical disruptions occur, repair and maintenance work is carried out on a priority basis to prevent farmers from facing unnecessary inconvenience. The Board added that while necessary technical improvements to the power supply are made from time to time, these do not affect the scheme providing 18 hours of free electricity to farmers. Agricultural experts believe that the availability of adequate electricity for irrigation is a crucial factor in the success of farming. A regular power supply is particularly essential for farmers cultivating crops such as paddy, sugarcane, bananas, vegetables, and other irrigated crops. Consequently, reports of power cuts naturally cause concern among farmers; therefore, it was necessary for the department to clarify the situation in a timely manner.
The Electricity Board also noted that misleading information is being circulated without official confirmation, causing confusion among farmers. The department has appealed to the media and the general public to verify any information regarding power supply through official channels before publishing or broadcasting it. This would help prevent unnecessary rumors and misunderstandings.
The state government has long been providing various assistance schemes to farmers, with free electricity for agricultural pump sets being a key initiative. The objective of this scheme is to reduce irrigation costs for farmers and boost agricultural production. The government believes that providing adequate energy to the agricultural sector helps increase farmers’ income and strengthens the rural economy.
Farmers’ organizations have also welcomed this clarification from the Electricity Board. They state that the official statement will dispel the confusion prevailing among farmers. Furthermore, they have demanded that if any technical changes regarding power supply are made in the future, the information should be conveyed to farmers in advance so that they can plan their irrigation and farming activities accordingly.
For now, the Electricity Board has reiterated that the arrangement for providing 18 hours of free three-phase power supply daily for agricultural pump sets remains unchanged. The Board has urged farmers not to rely on rumors or unverified information and to trust only the department’s official statements and communication channels for updates regarding the power supply.
