Farmers in Coimbatore and Tiruppur districts protest against the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board for delays in providing agricultural power connections under the Tatkal scheme, despite registrations and payments made months ago.
Coimbatore: Farmers in Coimbatore and Tiruppur districts are up in arms against the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB) for failing to provide agricultural power connections even after several months of registration under the Tatkal scheme. Over 50 farmers, representing various agricultural associations including the Tamil Nadu Farmers Protection Association, submitted a petition to the Chief Engineer of TNEB at their office on Dadabat Road in Coimbatore on October 1.
The farmers demanded immediate power connections for more than 30,000 agriculturists who have been waiting for up to two years under the Tatkal scheme and other agricultural power connection programs. Speaking to reporters after submitting the petition, farmer Arasendran explained that the TNEB had introduced the Tatkal scheme promising to provide agricultural power connections within 90 days. The scheme set fees at ₹2.5 lakhs for 5 HP, ₹2.75 lakhs for 7.5 HP, ₹3 lakhs for 10 HP, and ₹4 lakhs for 15 HP connections.
Arasendran stated that over 1.5 lakh farmers had applied for the Tatkal scheme, taking loans and paying the hefty fees in hopes of receiving quick connections. However, while more than one lakh connections were provided until 2022, over 30,000 farmers who paid for the Tatkal scheme have been waiting for more than two years without receiving their power connections.
The farmers accused the TNEB of deliberately delaying the process by citing a lack of equipment, specifically for those who have paid under the Tatkal scheme. They expressed frustration at having raised this issue multiple times in farmers' grievance meetings and through direct complaints to the electricity board, both in person and via post, yet not a single connection has been provided in the past two years.
The protesting farmers urged the TNEB to address this long-standing issue and fulfill their promise of providing timely agricultural power connections to support the farming community in the region.
The farmers demanded immediate power connections for more than 30,000 agriculturists who have been waiting for up to two years under the Tatkal scheme and other agricultural power connection programs. Speaking to reporters after submitting the petition, farmer Arasendran explained that the TNEB had introduced the Tatkal scheme promising to provide agricultural power connections within 90 days. The scheme set fees at ₹2.5 lakhs for 5 HP, ₹2.75 lakhs for 7.5 HP, ₹3 lakhs for 10 HP, and ₹4 lakhs for 15 HP connections.
Arasendran stated that over 1.5 lakh farmers had applied for the Tatkal scheme, taking loans and paying the hefty fees in hopes of receiving quick connections. However, while more than one lakh connections were provided until 2022, over 30,000 farmers who paid for the Tatkal scheme have been waiting for more than two years without receiving their power connections.
The farmers accused the TNEB of deliberately delaying the process by citing a lack of equipment, specifically for those who have paid under the Tatkal scheme. They expressed frustration at having raised this issue multiple times in farmers' grievance meetings and through direct complaints to the electricity board, both in person and via post, yet not a single connection has been provided in the past two years.
The protesting farmers urged the TNEB to address this long-standing issue and fulfill their promise of providing timely agricultural power connections to support the farming community in the region.