Sunday, May 29 2005 20:23 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Chandigarh: A day after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said that he was not in favour of providing free power, ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) ally, Communist Party of India (CPM) today (May 29, 2005) struck a note of dissent, saying the facility should be extended to needy farmers.

"Free power should be made available to needy farmers," (CPM) general secretary Prakash Karat told reporters in Chandigarh.

Asserting that the need of the hour was to do gradation so that poor agriculturists could get free electricity, he said "The States already providing free power to farmers should not stop it immediately."

He, however, said his party was not in favour of giving free power to farmers in those States, which have not extended such a facility so far.

Seeking review of the Electricity Act of 2003, Karat said privatisation of power would burden the farmers.

"The Congress Government will not be able to give free power to farmers if the Electricity Act of 2003 is implemented," he said. The act was promoting privatisation, he added.

Concerned over electricity shortage in the country, Singh had yesterday (May 28, 2005) said that he was not in favour of providing free power, as it could be a hindrance in additional electricity generation.

"Giving free power will not help in self-sufficiency in power generation and it could be an obstacle in additional power generation," the Prime Minister said, while dedicating the 1500 MW Nathpa Jhakri hydel power project to the nation.