Power Minister Gottipati Ravi Kumar. | Photo credit: File Photo
Power Minister Gottipati Ravi Kumar informed the Legislative Assembly on Friday that the government is spending ₹13,722 crore to provide free electricity to farmers across the state. He also said that 1.10 lakh agricultural electricity connections have been sanctioned so far to support the farming community.
Responding to a question raised by MLA Maddipati Venkata Raju regarding the distribution of agricultural transformers and safety issues in oil palm plantations, the minister said that 177 agricultural transformers have already been distributed in Gopalapuram constituency. Another 239 transformers will be released soon. He attributed the minor delay in distribution to the ongoing agricultural season and assured that the remaining transformers would be delivered soon.
The minister emphasized the government’s commitment to expand oil palm cultivation and said that special measures are being taken for the welfare and development of oil palm farmers. However, he expressed concern over the increasing electrical accidents during oil palm harvesting.
He explained that many accidents occur when iron poles used in harvesting come into contact with overhead power lines, leading to electrocution. To avoid such incidents, he recommended using covered fiber reinforced plastic (FRP) bars instead of iron bars. Though FRP poles cost ₹5,000, their use along with proper precautions could significantly reduce the number of accidents, he said and urged the MLAs to create awareness among farmers and farm workers to adopt safe practices.
The Minister also pointed out that the relocation of power lines is a costly process and will take place depending on the availability of funds. He noted that accidents also occur because houses are built under power lines and crops are grown directly under overhead lines.
In oil palm plantations, he recommended leaving enough space under power lines to avoid contact during harvest, especially when the trees grow up to 10 meters tall.
He further said that steps have been taken to address the risks posed by low-height transformers and assured that the officials of the electricity department would remain vigilant and ready to act to prevent accidents.
Published – 27 Feb 2026 20:55 IST
