The power supply to agricultural consumers is given at present under the funds provided by DPDC, SPA (REC Schemes) REC area Schemes, ARDC Schemes etc. and consumers are normally required to pay only the standard service connection charges and the S.D. as per prescribed scale. However, in view of the inadequate provisions of funds from the existing sources, it is difficult to release the power supply to all the agricultural consumers who come forward to avail the supply completing all the necessary formalities. This has resulted in an increase in the number of paid-pending applications which cannot be cleared in a reasonable time, thereby inviting complaints from such consumers. As such to expedite the release of power supply to those agricultural consurners who wish to have a priority by paying the prescribed deposit towards extension of supply by the Board, following scheme has been approved by the Board vide B.R.No. 84 dt. 25.10.82.

The consumers who want the service connections for their agricultural pump on priority and offer to make payment of deposits as stated hereunder may be permitted to deposit with the Board the prescribed amount as applicable for working out the average cost per pump as per ARDC pattern, in addition to the normal service connection charges and security deposit which they have already paid or they may be required to pay when their application is sanctioned.

The present ARDC cost pattern is as follows.

The amount of deposit so paid by the consumers as ARDC costs would be returned to the farmers by adjusting 50% of their energy bills towards repayment of the deposit. The remaining 50% bills will be paid by the farmer as per rules.

It is to be noted that service connections against the above deposit scheme should be treated as non-plan work. It has been further decided that only when it is positively ensured that it will be definitely possible to release the connection on priority after considering the position of material work involved, etc. within a period of 2 months from payment, then only any such advise for payment of deposit should be issued and payment accepted within the validity period which should not be kept more than about one month. Initially this scheme should be utilised to clear the back-log of the paid-pending cases as this will generate additional funds for clearing the back-log. This is a voluntary scheme and only in case consumers themselves show readyness in writing the deposit may be accepted.

Regarding accounting of such deposit and adjustment thereof, the necessary instructions are being issued separately by the Director of Accounts.