Free power to farmers not a healthy trend: Dr Parikh

Mumbai, Sep 28 (UNI) Planning Commission (Energy) member Dr Kirit Parikh today said free power to farmers is not healthy for the power sector.

He, however, acknowledged that there were several factors responsible for the power crisis and free power supply to farmers in some parts of the country was just one of them.

Talking to reporters here today, Dr Parikh said, ''I do not consider free power to be a good thing although I am not against subsidy.'' He opined that farmers could be provided free power up to 5,000 units.

He informed that, presently, pilferage losses were as high as 40 per cent which could be brought down to 15 per cent. If such losses are reduced, private investment could be attracted into the power sector. He urged the state electricity boards to step up vigilance to reduce pilgferage losses.

On non-conventional sources of energy, Dr Parikh said wind energy does not offer a permanent solution and hence, solar energy needs to be promoted.

He informed that commercial and industrial units are using 40 per cent of the total power and were paying two and half times more tariff.

UNI JM MAZ PKS DB2047