UP govt signs MoU for 24/7 power
Q. Which state government has signed an MoU for 24/7 power supply by 2018?- Published on 17 Apr 17a. Uttar Pradesh
b. Himachal Pradesh
c. Uttarakhand
d. Kerala
ANSWER: Uttar Pradesh
The Uttar Pradesh government has signed an MoU with the Centre to ensure 24/7 power supply by Oct, 2018.
The surcharge waiver would cost the state exchequer around INR 3,500 crore.
Also, in a first, the UP government has decided to purchase potatoes directly from farmers to cut wastage of the crop due to shortage of cold storages.
Centre approved procurement of 1 lakh metric tonne (MT) of potatoes+ in the state under the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) during 2016-17 crop year (July-June).
The approval is in tune with the UP cabinet's decision to procure potatoes so that the farmers are not forced to sell it at throwaway prices in summer.
The purchase will be made at Rs 4,870 per MT. The agriculture ministry will provide an additional Rs 1,217.50 per MT for overhead expenses.
This follows loan waiver for farmers and speed up wheat procurement drive at MSP in the state.
With this, Uttar Pradesh which was the only state in the country which had not signed the agreement has finally come on board the central government scheme.
The chief minister chose Ambedkar Jayanti as the occasion to sign the ambitious 24×7 Power For All scheme of the Centre, as he said it was a tribute to Ambedkar, who stood for equality for all, irrespective of caste.
