Gujarat Farmers No Longer Require Co-Owner Consent for Agricultural Power Connections
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Synopsis
The Gujarat government's recent reforms simplify the process of securing agricultural electricity connections, eliminating the need for co-owner consent and allowing individual connections for co-owners under specific conditions.
Key Takeaways
- Gujarat government reforms simplify agricultural power connection processes.
- Farmers no longer need consent from co-owners.
- Self-declaration now suffices for applications.
- Each co-owner can obtain a separate connection with certain criteria.
- One connection per survey number per co-owner is permitted.
Gandhinagar, April 22 (NationPress) The Gujarat government has implemented reforms on Tuesday to streamline the process of obtaining electricity connections for agricultural use.
The newly introduced regulations are designed to alleviate the challenges faced by farmers - particularly those in tribal and rural regions - when seeking power supply for their farming activities.
Previously, farmers applying for new agricultural electricity connections were mandated to provide consent letters from all co-owners listed in the 7/12 land extract, which had to be notarized on stamp paper.
This requirement often posed significant obstacles, especially in tribal areas where land ownership is frequently shared among multiple heirs without formal partitioning in revenue records.
Many farmers, despite having internal agreements, faced difficulties in acquiring the necessary documentation.
Recognizing this issue, and following appeals from legislators and farming groups, the state government, led by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, has revised the regulation.
According to the new provisions, applicants will no longer need to obtain consent from co-owners. Instead, a self-declaration by the applicant on notarized stamp paper will now suffice.
Energy Minister Kanubhai Desai, who announced the updates, stated that this initiative underscores the government's dedication to farmers' welfare.
Moreover, a second significant amendment has been introduced: even if multiple co-owners are noted in the 7/12 extract, each individual will now qualify for a separate electricity connection - regardless of their landholding size - as long as their name appears on the record, they possess a separate water source such as a well or bore, and they provide a clear map delineating individual land boundaries.
However, the new regulation also stipulates that each co-owner is entitled to only one electricity connection per survey number registered in their name. This farmer-centric reform, the government stated, is a direct response to consistent requests from MLAs and farmers who have faced challenges with the lengthy electricity connection process.
