Subsidy on private tubewell raised by Rs 13,000 in UP

Lucknow, Jul 4 (UNI) In a major pro-farmers step, Uttar Pradesh government today announced to release Rs 136 crore for a new scheme under which the financial asistance to farmers for energising the private tube wells had been increased to Rs 68,000 from existing Rs 55,000.

An announcement to this effect was made by the chief miniter Mayawati at a press conference here this evening.

The scheme targeted to benefit 20,000 farmers in the state, provides for 300 metre of free of charge line for boring and they would not have to pay anything besides the connection charges.

She said the scheme was being run in the state through power corporation. In the year 2004-05 only Rs 43,000 was being provided as the financial assitance to farmers which was increased to Rs 55,000 in 2006-07.

Emphasising the need of provding irrigation facilities, Ms Mayawati said the continuous neglect of the agriculture sector by the previous governments in the state had dwindled the growth rate.

''The proper irrgiation facilities are required to achieve the tergeted growth rate of 5.7 in the state during 11th five year plan,''she said.

In UP, the irrigation is undertaken thorugh 35 lakh private pumpsets, out of which eight lakh run on electricity.

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