Patna, Aug. 10: Bihar State Power (Holding) Company Ltd has started supplying eight hours of power in rural areas to tackle the drought-like situation in the state owing to deficient rainfall.

The power company’s decision has come following the chief minister Nitish Kumar’s directive to officials to ensure eight hours of uninterrupted power supply to the farmers in rural areas for irrigation purpose.

The state has received a rainfall of 421.9mm against the normal 594mm between June 1 and August 9, a deficit of 29 per cent.

Sources said power, which was either being sold or surrendered during lean hours (daytime), would be utilised to ensure power supply for eight hours in rural areas during the day. The sources said utilisation of power during the lean hours could be one of the reasons for ensuring power to two-thirds of the rural feeders of north Bihar and more than half of rural feeders of south Bihar.

Energy department’s secretary and chairman-cum-managing director of Bihar State Power (Holding) Company Ltd Sandeep Poundrik said there is a demand of 2,000MW in peak hours and it declines to 1,500-,1600MW during lean hours. Therefore, the power company has sold or surrendered the surplus power.

The power company’s deputy general manager (public relations) H.R. Pandey said: “The company has decided to ensure eight hours of power supply in rural areas in two shifts. The first shift would be from 8am to 8pm while the second shift would start from 8pm to 8am during which the power supply would be ensured. Of the 657 rural feeders catering to the needs of consumers in 21 districts of north Bihar, 448 would be provided power supply during the first shift while the remaining 209 would get the supply in the second shift.”

The rural feeders of south Bihar catering to the consumers of 17 districts would also be provided power supply into shifts. “Of the 681 feeders, the power supply would be provided to 376 feeders in the first shift and 305 feeders in the night shift,” Pandey said.