Somit Sen & Clara LewisMumbai: In a major relief for Maharashtra’s farmers, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday announced that the state govt will soon waive electricity dues worth Rs 48,000 crore owed by agricultural consumers using up to 7.5 horsepower (HP) pumps, extending support beyond the existing free power scheme and clearing decades-old arrears accumulated by farmers.Fadnavis made the announcement at a BJP-organised felicitation function at the Y B Chavan Centre, where he was being honoured for the state govt’s decision to waive farm loans of up to Rs 2 lakh.The latest decision significantly expands the state’s support to the agriculture sector. In the June 2024 budget, the govt had announced that it would bear the burden of electricity bills for farmers using agricultural pump connections up to 7.5 HP and provide them free power under the Mukhyamantri Baliraja Mofat Veej Yojana. A budgetary provision of Rs 14,761 crore was earmarked in 2024 for the subsidy, with the govt committing to pay current electricity bills on behalf of eligible farmers.However, Wednesday’s announcement goes a step further by wiping out past arrears as well.According to senior officials of the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (MSEDCL), the move effectively clears all outstanding dues accumulated by farmers using agri pumps up to 7.5 HP since the time they obtained their electricity connections.“The arrears on our books have been wiped off. The government has agreed to bear the entire burden and the funds will flow into MSEDCL’s accounts,” a senior official said.MSEDCL managing director Lokesh Chandra described the decision as a “win-win” for both farmers and the utility. While farmers will be freed from a longstanding debt burden, MSEDCL will be able to recover dues that had remained largely unrealisable for years.The waiver also comes against the backdrop of the state’s push to make agricultural power supply self-sustaining through solarisation. Under the Mukhyamantri Saur Krushi Vahini Yojana (MSKVY) 2.0, work is underway on decentralised solar power projects with a capacity of over 15,284 MW, making it one of the largest such initiatives globally. Chandra said the programme is helping shift farm power consumption to daytime hours, with nearly 76% of agricultural consumers now receiving daytime electricity supply.Launched in April 2023, the scheme involves private investment of around Rs 65,000 crore, development of nearly 40,000 acres for solar projects, and is expected to generate about 70,000 jobs in rural areas.An energy department official said the govt has prepared a long-term and sustainable roadmap for agriculture power supply through solar feeders, ensuring reliable and affordable electricity for nearly 44 lakh agricultural consumers covered under the free power scheme.
