To improve power supply to the irrigation sector, the West Bengal government will pump in Rs 4,200 crore over the next two years for a dedicated feeder line.
“The cabinet has approved a separate dedicated power line for irrigation, which will be rolled out at a cost of Rs 4,200 crore and the same will be initiated in a month’s time and completed over the next two years,” state Power minister Manish Gupta said.
It was part of Sech Bandhu project, which entails <g data-gr-id="20">to install</g> 46,000 pump sets with electric connectivity. The project will not only help improve farm productivity with better power <g data-gr-id="19">supply,</g> but help eradicate low voltage issues in rural Bengal, Gupta said.
Co-funded by the Centre with 60 <g data-gr-id="15">per cent</g> of the cost, the project would entail providing dedicated separate feeder lines for irrigation purposes for farmers, he said.
Infrastructure development for the project would include installation of 80 new 33/11KV sub-stations, 1.14 lakh distribution transformers and upgradation of some 50,000 existing transformers, the Minister said.