Chennai, Sep 23 (PTI):
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin rolled out the one lakh farm electricity connection scheme here on Thursday and slammed the previous AIADMK regime for “ruining” the state-run electricity corporation. Marking the launch of the Rs 3,025 crore scheme, Stalin distributed orders for providing electricity connections -for pumpsets- to 10 farmers in a function held at the Anna Centenary Library auditorium.
The one lakh connection scheme would be useful for generations after generations, he said, adding “since farmers will be benefitted, they will be producing food not only for them but for the people of the whole state.” The scheme was recently announced in the State Assembly during the demand for grants (2021-22) for Energy Department.
Citing statistics, Stalin said during the AIADMK regime, in the past 10 years, only approximately two lakh power connections were provided. Whereas, in about four months after assuming office in May, his government is now providing one lakh connections.
“This is the difference between the governments led by the AIADMK and DMK.” The Chief Minister further said, “there is no such government elsewhere in India that is so quick.”
The governments led by his party, the DMK, had always been a regime of farmers, he said and cited a resolution recently adopted in the Tamil Nadu Assembly against the three farm laws of the Centre. “Farmers will for sure not forget this.”
Listing initiatives taken up during the tenure of former Chief Minister M Karunanidhi like those related to the Cauvery issue, waiver of Rs 7,000 crore farm loans (cooperative banks), providing land to landless farm labourers and free electricity to farmers, Stalin said the launch of one lakh electricity connections to farmers is the new addition.
No one need to think that the government-run electricity entity is flourishing as one lakh connections were being provided and a majority of them at free of cost, he said and alleged that the electricity corporation was ruined during the previous AIADMK regime.
