'One farmer one transformer' scheme in Maharashtra from Aug 15

In order to reduce electricity losses, the Maharashtra government will next month launch a new scheme allocating one transformer per farmer, said Energy Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule in the assembly today.

The scheme, "one farmer one transformer", will be unveiled on August 15, he said, replying to a debate on supplementary demands of his department.

Bawankule said electricity losses are a whopping 50 per cent in some places and the government wants to bring it down to 15 per cent.

Two lakh farmers will be given electricity connection for high voltage distribution line which will ensure uninterrupted power supply, he said.

Forest Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar, while replying to demands of his department, announced a Rs 2 lakh hike in the compensation given to the kin ofpeople killed in attack by wild animals.

Each affected family will now get Rs 10 lakh instead of Rs 8 lakh earlier, he said, adding Rs 3 lakh will be given in cash and remaining as deposit.

Similarly, farmers who lose their cattle in attack by wild animals will now get Rs 40,000, up from Rs 25,000 earlier, Mungantiwar said.