Gandhinagar, Monday: With monsoon not keeping its date in Gujarat, Chief Minister Narendra Modi today decided to increase three-phase power supply for agricultural purposes by two hours with immediate effect from eight hours earlier to ten hours now.
Minister of State for Energy Saurabh Patel said this laudable decision has been taken in the larger interest of the farmers, so that the production should not suffer for want of water as far as possible.
In normal year, he said, the monsoon sets in the state around June 15, but this year it seems to have been delayed, resulting in hardships to the farmers in carrying out sowing operation due to shortage of water. Keeping this end in view, the Chief Minister has asked all the agricultural feeders to supply three-phase electricity for ten hours from June 28, 2011, in lieu of eight hours so far. The new order will remain in force till the next one.