The government should provide electricity connections without delay to farmers registered under the immediate scheme: G.K. Vasan.

Chennai: G.K. Vasan, President of the Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC), has demanded that the Tamil Nadu government provide agricultural electricity connections without further delay to farmers who registered under the ‘Tatkal’ (immediate) scheme. He stated that while farmers have deposited the required fees in accordance with the government’s prescribed procedure, they have been waiting for connections for a long time, which is adversely affecting their farming operations and financial stability.

Citing government data, Vasan noted that a total of ₹1,250 crore has been collected from approximately 50,000 farmers in Tamil Nadu under the Tatkal electricity connection scheme. Despite this, a large number of farmers have yet to receive their connections. He expressed concern that farmers are not receiving the service on time even after the government has already collected their deposits.

Vasan emphasized that the agricultural sector is the backbone of Tamil Nadu’s economy, with lakhs of farmers relying on electricity for irrigation. Due to the lack of timely connections, farmers are unable to utilize borewells and irrigation pumps on their farms; this is disrupting agricultural activities and raising fears of a decline in production.

He pointed out that cultivation costs are constantly rising, with farmers already facing increased expenses for seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, diesel, and labor. Under these circumstances, having to wait further for electricity connections only exacerbates their financial woes. He urged the government to acknowledge the farmers’ hardships and take immediate action on the matter.

The TMC President stated that the very objective of the Tatkal scheme was to provide electricity connections on a priority basis to farmers who paid the prescribed fees. He argued that failing to provide connections for years after collecting funds under the scheme undermines its credibility. He called upon the government to clarify how many farmers have received connections so far and how many applications remain pending.

Vasan demanded a review of all pending applications and the formulation of a time-bound plan to address them. Additionally, farmers should be provided with information regarding the status of their applications so that they do not have to make repeated trips to government offices. He stated that farmers’ issues could be resolved quickly by making administrative procedures simpler and more transparent.

He further remarked that a regular and reliable power supply for irrigation plays a crucial role in boosting agricultural production. If farmers receive electricity connections on time, they can make better use of modern irrigation systems, leading to both water conservation and increased output. This would also strengthen efforts to boost farmers’ income.

Vasan alleged that while a large number of farmers deposited the required fees trusting the government, frustration is growing among them due to the failure to provide the service within the expected timeframe. He urged the government to release the pending electricity connections as soon as possible to maintain the farmers’ trust. This would provide relief to the agricultural sector and strengthen the rural economy.

He stated that the state government must ensure the availability of necessary resources within the power distribution system to prevent any obstacles in the process of issuing agricultural electricity connections. Any issues arising at the technical or administrative levels should be resolved on a priority basis.

Vasan also emphasized that the state’s overall development cannot be envisioned without strengthening the agricultural sector. Providing timely electricity, irrigation, and other basic amenities to farmers is a primary responsibility of the government. He added that to increase agricultural production and improve farmers’ income, the government should strengthen infrastructure and expedite the resolution of pending service requests.

He urged the state government to provide electricity connections without further delay to all farmers registered under the immediate scheme. Furthermore, clear timelines should be established for the implementation of such schemes in the future so that farmers do not face uncertainty.

Experts in the agricultural sector also believe that the timely provision of electricity connections will expand irrigation facilities and enable farmers to plan their cultivation better in accordance with seasonal conditions. This would enhance production capacity and strengthen the rural economy. Against this backdrop, the attention of farmers and agricultural organizations is now focused on the Tamil Nadu government’s next move regarding how quickly it resolves the issue of pending electricity connections.