05-11-2005, 01:25 AM
aam-aadmi can kiss senora's italian @rse..
http://www.ndtv.com/topstories/showtopstor...scheme&id=16857
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Maharashtra withdraws free power scheme
Maharashtra withdraws free power scheme - News India Priyanka Kakodkar
Tuesday, May 10, 2005 (Mumbai):
The Congress-NCP government in Maharashtra today decided to stop providing free power to farmers after a huge electricity shortage in the state.
Riots and protests against power cuts have eventually forced the Maharashtra government to announce the end of the free power scheme for farmers.
The nine-month-old scheme, which was a key election promise in the Congress-NCP manifesto, has cost the state Rs 1200 crore. The scheme will end on June 1.
Financial crunch
"Today there's a financial crunch and a power shortage. When we introduced the scheme there was a drought and farmer suicides in the state," said Vilasrao Deshmukh, chief minister of Maharashtra.
But farmers will continue to be subsidised for their electricity bills under a scheme that was in use before the elections - the poor farmers would get the bulk of the subsidy.
"The subsidies we have given today will cost us Rs 1200 crores. We save Rs 500 crores but there will be a better control on power consumption," Deshmukh said.
In the coming year, the state's 25 lakh farmers will also have to install electricity metres. And those who do will pay a lower bill.
The government says the roll back will save Rs 500 crore and cut down power consumption.
Political fallout
But it could also alienate its rural votebank, which is already upset with the power cuts stretching up to nine hours a day.
"The government just makes promises that it has no intention of keeping," said Shiv Sena leader Narayan Rane.
The Congress-NCP government had promised to extend the cut-off date of slums but its ended up leading the biggest demolition drive in Mumbai.
And by rolling back another key pre-poll promise, the alliance is bound to face questions on whether it's going to honour the promises made in their manifesto.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
http://www.ndtv.com/topstories/showtopstor...scheme&id=16857
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Maharashtra withdraws free power scheme
Maharashtra withdraws free power scheme - News India Priyanka Kakodkar
Tuesday, May 10, 2005 (Mumbai):
The Congress-NCP government in Maharashtra today decided to stop providing free power to farmers after a huge electricity shortage in the state.
Riots and protests against power cuts have eventually forced the Maharashtra government to announce the end of the free power scheme for farmers.
The nine-month-old scheme, which was a key election promise in the Congress-NCP manifesto, has cost the state Rs 1200 crore. The scheme will end on June 1.
Financial crunch
"Today there's a financial crunch and a power shortage. When we introduced the scheme there was a drought and farmer suicides in the state," said Vilasrao Deshmukh, chief minister of Maharashtra.
But farmers will continue to be subsidised for their electricity bills under a scheme that was in use before the elections - the poor farmers would get the bulk of the subsidy.
"The subsidies we have given today will cost us Rs 1200 crores. We save Rs 500 crores but there will be a better control on power consumption," Deshmukh said.
In the coming year, the state's 25 lakh farmers will also have to install electricity metres. And those who do will pay a lower bill.
The government says the roll back will save Rs 500 crore and cut down power consumption.
Political fallout
But it could also alienate its rural votebank, which is already upset with the power cuts stretching up to nine hours a day.
"The government just makes promises that it has no intention of keeping," said Shiv Sena leader Narayan Rane.
The Congress-NCP government had promised to extend the cut-off date of slums but its ended up leading the biggest demolition drive in Mumbai.
And by rolling back another key pre-poll promise, the alliance is bound to face questions on whether it's going to honour the promises made in their manifesto.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->