Centre not to stop free power to farmers

CHANDIGARH, July 11: The Centre will not stop states from giving free power to needy sections of the society, including farmers, Union Power Minister P Kumaramangalam said here today.

However, the state will have to bear the cost of the free power, Kumaramangalam said at a press conference here. Besides adding 40,000 MW of power in the current five-year plan, the Centre will increase the efficiency of power generation facilities through renovation and maintenance programmes, the minister said.

Kumaramangalam, who is heading a delegation of his ministry to Punjab and Haryana in a meeting was happy with Chandigarh’s proposal to set up 32 to 50 MW liquid fuel power station.