Lakhs of farmers waiting for power connections: Gujarat Congress

Lakhs of farmers in the state are waiting for electricity connections, the Opposition Congress alleged on Wednesday, while taking potshots at the government for its claims of selling large quantities of excess power outside the state.

Information provided to questions by several Congress MLAs in the House showed that the government received 1,53,883 applications for electricity connections from farmers in the last two years, of which 18,989 farmers were granted connections, while 7,210 applications were rejected.

"More than 1.27 lakh of the applications submitted by farmers in just two years are pending, but lakhs more are waiting for electricity connections for even longer. If the government's claims of Gujarat having excess power are true, then there should not be any pending applications," leader of opposition Paresh Dhanani, said.

Dhanani also said that instead of selling excess electricity to other states as being claimed, the state government should immediately give electricity connections to farmers.

According to the state government, more than 1 lakh electricity connections are being given to farmers each year. In the Budget for the year 2018-19, the government has set the target at 1.22 lakh.