Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi will launch the scheme of replacing irrigation pumpsets in January 2011, Electricity Minister Arcot N. Veeraswami said on Tuesday.
Mr. Veeraswami told The Hindu that the pumpsets, belonging to small and marginal farmers, would be replaced free of cost with energy efficient ones.
As per a conservative estimate, nearly 15 lakh pumpsets out of 19 lakh pumpsets in the State would have to be replaced. Pumpsets installed in the last five years need not be replaced.
At present, the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB) was undertaking a survey to ascertain the number of pumpsets to be replaced.
Earlier, he administered oath of office to S. Nagalsamy on his appointment as Member of the Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission.
