Farmers in Bihar have received a major boost as the state government introduces a new directive to streamline irrigation and agricultural operations. Samrat Choudhary has announced that agricultural feeders across the state will now provide an uninterrupted 12-hour power supply to farmers, starting from 6 AM and continuing until 6 PM daily. This decision is aimed at providing essential relief to the agrarian sector, particularly in districts currently facing drought-like conditions, where ensuring proper water supply for crops has become a critical challenge.
Affordable Power and Significant Subsidies
Beyond ensuring availability, the government has focused on maintaining highly affordable rates for agricultural electricity. Farmers with valid agricultural connections are currently receiving electricity at a nominal rate of 55 paise per unit. According to government data, a massive 93 percent subsidy is being provided on agricultural power consumption, a strategic move designed to lower the overall input costs for farming and provide much-needed financial relief to the agricultural community.
Infrastructure and Renewable Energy Integration
The state has already established over 2,700 agricultural feeders, dedicated to meeting the irrigation requirements of fields across various districts. During a high-level review meeting held with the Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Pralhad Joshi, the focus was placed on ensuring the effective operation of these feeders to maximize crop yields. The government is also prioritizing the solarization of these agricultural feeders under the Pradhan Mantri KUSUM scheme. Furthermore, directives have been issued to expand the reach of the Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar free electricity scheme to benefit a larger number of consumers and farmers.
Green Hydrogen and Private Investment
In a move to align with the central government's vision of clean and self-reliant energy, the review meeting also reached a consensus on developing a Green Hydrogen policy specifically for Bihar. Officials have been tasked with creating an environment conducive to attracting private investment in the renewable energy sector. The administration aims to complete these energy initiatives within a strictly defined timeline to ensure the sustainability of the state's power infrastructure.
Public Distribution System and Ration Cards
Concurrent with the energy review, Samrat Choudhary met with Pralhad Joshi, the Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, to assess the status of the Public Distribution System (PDS). During this session, the administration set an ambitious target to expedite the process of issuing one crore new ration cards. Instructions have been issued to ensure basic facilities, including reliable electricity, at all food grain warehouses. Furthermore, the government has mandated the creation of an accurate digital database of beneficiaries and a robust monitoring system for ration distribution to guarantee that eligible citizens receive their food supplies without any obstacles.
