Mapping of agri power connections prevent irregularities

Nizamabad:The Telangana State Northern Power Distribution Company Limited (TGNPDCL) has started a mapping programme for agricultural power connections, transformers, and substations in the Nizamabad circle. Officials are visiting each transformer in Nizamabad, Bodhan, and Armoor divisions to streamline power usage and address irregular connections.

According to TGNPDCL, there are 83,619 agricultural connections in Nizamabad district. With free power supply, many farmers have installed pump sets in their fields. Some have set up additional motors without official connections, bypassing the required daily fee of ₹1 per connection and a deposit of ₹5,700 for new installations. Others avoid the annual fee of ₹360, further contributing to unauthorised connections.

As a result, frequent repair issues and accidental deaths arise when the supply is active. Through mapping, TGNPDCL aims to document each agriculture meter, transformer, and substation to detect and prevent unauthorized connections. A senior TGNPDCL engineer noted that certain farmers have been operating multiple pump sets under the same meter number. Once digitalised, the mapping data will help curb these irregularities. However, officials reported pressure from local leaders, such as one from Ankapur village, to drop the annual ₹360 fee for agriculture connections.

There are 47,000 transformers across 216 substations in Nizamabad, Bodhan, and Armoor divisions. The region cultivates paddy, turmeric, maize, soybeans, and vegetables on vast tracts of land, relying on pump sets for irrigation. Armoor division is a tail-end area for the Nizamsagar project and mainly depends on the Laxmi canal from the Sriramsagar project for water supply.