Stating this here on Thursday, Haryana Cooperative and Development Bank chairman Narinder Singh said the fourth slab of Rs 30 per HP for tubewells more than 200 ft deep was implemented as soon as legal hindrances were overcome.

Farmers in drought-prone areas of the state would be benefitted by this system, he said and added that prior to 1996, the system consisting of three slabs was applicable only in Mahendragarh, Bhiwani And Rewari districts, whereas it had now been extended to all districts of the state.

Singh said farmers of drought-prone districts had reached an agreement in 1995 with the then chief minister Bhajan Lal to pay outstanding electricity bills at the rate of Rs 43 per HP thereafter. Singh said the Bansi Lal government had loweredpower tariff to Rs 30 per HP for drought-prone areas, even lower than the farmers' demand and provided special relaxation to them by waiving surcharge and interest on outstanding electricity bills.

Singh, who is also an MLA from Badhra Assembly constituency, said the power situation there had improved considerably and round-the-clock supply of power would be achieved within a month.

He advised farmers to make judicious use of power for irrigation purposes as scientists felt that if tubewells were operated for more than eight hours daily then in a few years people might face scarcity of drinking water.

According to the scientists, the level of underground water would keep receding due to greater extraction for irrigation and brackish water might take its place to maintain the leve.