Fish farmers have to pay for power at industrial rates

Kuldip Bhatia

Ludhiana, October 12

Keeping up with the state government’s policy to promote the diversification of agriculture for increasing the income of farmers, the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) has decided to supply power to the fish farmers on industrial tariff, albeit, on some terms and conditions.

According to a commercial circular from the headquarters of the PSPCL, new connections for fish farming, including water pumping, will be released from nearest 11-KV feeder to the applicants having fish tank with minimum area of one acre or more.

It has been stipulated that the fish farmers desirous of availing the concessional power supply will have to get themselves registered with the Fisheries Department and obtain a certificate for having the tank of requisite dimension (minimum area one acre or above).

“The applicants shall have to take a certificate of completion of five-day training course from the Fish Farmers Development Agency (FFDA) of the Fisheries Department, Punjab. In case of shrimp farming, training certificate from the Regional Research Centre of ICAR-CIFE (Central Institute of Fisheries Education), Rohtak will be mandatory,” says the circular.

Further, the applicant will have to submit a certificate of recommendation from the Assistant Director, Fisheries, or the CEO of FFDA of the Fisheries Department. It has also been laid down that those seeking new power connection/extension in load/demand for fish farming (exclusively) will be required to pay service connection charges under the ‘Schedule of tariff for industrial power supply’ as per the standard cost data approved by the Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission from time to time.

The PSPCL has made it clear that the misuse of power supply given for fish farming will be strictly prohibited and power connection, where electricity is found to be used for any other purpose than fish farming, will be immediately disconnected without any further notice. Such consumers would also face action as per the relevant provisions of the Electricity Supply Code and other commercial instructions in vogue.