Loadshedding will be rescheduled for rural areas: CM

Chief minister Ashok Chavan has declared that loadshedding timings in villages will be rescheduled so that it does not affect the sowing of Kharif crops. “Although the state is facing 4,500 MW power shortage,we shall look at rescheduling power cuts so that farmers will not be at loss,” he said. Chavan was addressing the media after a meeting at Agriculture College to discuss the preparations of Kharif season.

He said that the loadshedding will only be rescheduled for rural areas and this does not mean that the urban areas will have to face more loadshedding. Chavan made the announcement after at least three representatives from Kolhapur and Satara presented the problems faced by farmers there at the meeting. These speakers also highlighted that sowing is the crucial time when electricity is required by farmers and suggested that if power cuts during this time can be reduced and compensated later in some other month when there is not much requirement of power.

State Cooperative Minister Harshavardhan Patil,State Revenue Minister Patangrao Kadam,State Agriculture Minister Balasaheb Thorat,Guardian Minister (Pune) Ajit Pawar,Zilla Parishad heads,collectors and MLAs from Pune,Kolhapur,Solapur,Satara and Sangli attended the meeting.

Chavan also assured that the state will not fall short of fertilizers and seeds this Kharif season. “Pune division has 226,000 metric tonne fertilizers in buffer stock and 91,500 quintal seeds for this Kharif,” he said.

The Chief Minister also stated that the amount of loan disbursed this year has increased by more than double as compared to last year. “Rs 584 crore agricultural loan has been disbursed this year as against Rs 212 crore last year,” he said.

Chavan also said that meeting will be held with representatives of those cooperative banks that are facing problems. “We shall try to solve the problems and ensure that farmers are not affected because of the banks’ status,” he said.