CHAPTER- III PROFILE OF THE ELECTRIC SOCIETY 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Importance of Shrirampur and Rahuri Talukas 3 3 Geographical Situation and Weather of Shrirainpur and Rahuri Talukas 3.4 Sources of Irrigation 3.5 Profile of the Electric Society 3.6 Business of the Electric Society 3.7 The MSEB tariff for the Electric Society CHAPTER- III PROFILE OF THE ELECTRIC SOCIETY 3.1 INTRODUCTION The Electric Society is located in Shrirampur, and it is a place of Taluka Headquarters. As already stated its area of operation covers 75 villages of Shrirampur taluka, 82 villages of Rahuri taluka and 5 and 4 villages respectively of Sangamaner and Newasa talukas. It is appropriate at this stage, therefore, to explain briefly about the agro-climatic conditions as obtained in the area of operation of the Electric Society. .2 IMPORTANCE OF SHRIRAMPUR AND RAHURI TALUKAS Shrirampur and Rahuri Talukas occupy an important place in Ahmednagar District. Both these talukas are well developed in agriculture on account of irrigation facility and hardworking and innovative agriculturists. Sugarcane is the main cash-crop of both the talukas. There are five sugar- factories working in the area of operation of the Electric Society. Four of the sugar factories are located in Shrirampur Taluka, and one of them is located in Rahuri Taluka. Out of the four sugar factories in the Shrirampur Taluka, two in the Private sector. Both the private sugar- factories are closed now. Pravara co-operative sugajxfactory, the oldest co-operative sugar factory in sVcw state of 43 Maharashtra, is located at Pravaranagar, which is about 15 kms away from the Shrirampur, Taluka Headquarters. Asok co­ operative sugar factory is located at about 4 kms. away from Shrirampur. Rahuri Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana, established in 1956, is located at a disatance of about 6 kms. from Rahuri, the Taluka Headquarters. Both Pravara and Rahuri co-operative sugar factories are treated to be big factories on the basis of their crushing capacity. They are also treated as well- managed factories. The existence of these as well as other sugar co-operative factories in the District has provided eminence to Shrirampur. This is further enhanced by the fact of the existence of the railway station facility at Shrirampur (Belapur). This has made Shrirampur as importantm«Crket place for sugar. Rahuri is important for one more reason. One of the four Agriculture Universities in the state of Maharashtra, i.e., Mahatma Phule Agriculture University is located at Rahuri. Composite college imparting education upto Degree level in the faculties of Arts, Science and commerce is also located at Rahuri. Shrirampur Taluka has dufferent types of educational institutions. In addition to the Arts, Science and commerce colleges, Medical college, Engineering college, Dental Surgery, Pharmacy college etc. have been established at Loni, (shrirampur Taluka). Post-graduate and engineering studies in agriculture may be pursued at Mahatma Phule 44 Agriculture University, Rahuri. Eastern part of Shrirampur town has accomadated various industries in small scale sector. The MIDC has recently started a new industrial estate at Shrirampur. All these developments were possible because of the solid ^foundation laid by the agriculturist community in this art 3 GEOGRAPHICAL SITUATION AND WEATHER OF SHRIRAMPUR RAHURI TALUKAS Both the talukas receive rain in the range of 15 to 20 inches every year. Most of the time the distribution of rain is found to be very uneven. Dry weather is obtained in both the talukas. Weather obtained is neither very hot nor very cool. The geographical area in Shrirampur Taluka is about 87120 hectares. Out of which about 52,470 hectares of land is under irrigation. The geographical area in Rahuri Taluka is about 1,01,778 hectares, out of which about 31,900 hectares of land is under irrigation. Both these talukas enjoy the benefit of plain & fertile land. For this reason agriculturists of this area have irrigated their land through canals, lift irrigation, wells, etc. Agriculturists of both talukas take cash crops, such as sugar-cane, cotton, grapes, pomogranates, and other vegetables regularly. 45 3.4 SOURCES OF IRRIGATION Godavari and Bhima are the Major rivers of the Ahrnednagar district. The Pravara is a tributary of Godavari. Mula, Adhala and Mahalungi are the important tributaries of Pravara. Godavari passes through the Kopargaon taluka and afterwords, along the border of Shrirampur, Newasa, Shevgaon Talukas. Pravara, Originates in Akola taluka and passes through Sangamner, Shrirampur, Rahuri and Newasa talukas. Mula river covers Akola, Sangamner, Parner and Rahuri talukas. Mula and Pravara rivers cover major part of Shrirampur and Rahuri talukas and the same area is covered by the Electric Society. Hence the Electric Society is named as Mula-Pravara Electric Corporative Society. Bhandardara Dam was constructed in 1925 on Pravara river at Akola, Mula Dam was constructed on the Mula river at Baragaon Nandur, in Rahuri Taluka . The water of Bhandardara dam has benefited Shrirampur taluka. Out of the total capacity of the project, near about 56% of water is distributed to the Shrirampur Taluka. The left canal of this dam is coming to this Taluka. Near about 15840 hectares of land comes under irrigation because of this facility. There is a provision made at Takalibhan to store tail water-tank, which can irrigate near about 500 hectares of land. Mula dam is very useful to Rahuri Taluka in respect of irrigation. Left canal of this dam is useful 4*3 to this JFaluka at>d irrigates near about 20989 hectares land, {including lift irrigation, and Musalwadi tank's irrigation). PROFILE OF THE ELECTRIC SOCIETY a.) Formation of the Hola~Pravara Electric Co-operative Society The Electric Society was established by the REC on the recommendation of All India Rural Credit Review Committee in 1969. One of the objectives of the REC was to establish electric-co-operative societies on pilot basis. Accordingly, the REC established one electric co-operative society in each of the following five states in the country. 1. Gujrat 2. Karnataka 3. Uttar Pradesh 4. Andhra Pradesh 5. Maharashtra The Electric Society was the electric co-operative established in the State of Maharashtra with the help of the REC. Before independence Shrirampur, Rahuri and nearby talukas in Ahmednagar district was known as drought-prone area. In the Third Five Year Plan, more emphasis was given to rural electrification. In 1967 National Rural Electric Co­ operative Association sent a group of experts for the purpose of studying the potential for forming an electric co-operative 47 Society in Shrirumpur and Rahuri talukas. The expert-group submitted their report to the Rural Electric Co-operative Association. At the same time the Central Government asked the ground water survey department to find out the natural water resources in the above talukas. This department found that a large quantity of ground water would be available in Shrirampur and Rahuri talukas. In order to utilise these natural resources for rural development, provision of electricity was a must. The recommendations of the Expert group and the report of the ground water survey department were considered at the national level. Maharashtra State Government, the MSEB and the REC took initiative in the formation of the Electric Society, and prepared a plan-layout of the Electric Society's project. After completing all the necessary formalities the Electric Society was registered, on October 2, 1969, under the Maharashtra Co-operative Societies Act, i960. After its formation, the Electric Society received a licence for electric distribution from the Government on Jan. 28, 1971, for the period of 20 years. The head office of the Electric Society was at Rahuri (which was later on shifted to Shrirampur) for the purpose of its smooth working, the Electric Societ. established a five divisional offices, and 30 sub-divisional (section offices) offices in area of its operation by the end of March 1988. 48 The Electric Society had taken over the existing assets (mainly electric installations) in its area of operation from the MSEB on the payment of compensation. Book value of the assets taken over on March 1, 1971 was Rs.193.25 lakhs. The main job of the Electric Society was to provide electric power to its consumers. The Electric Society was not to generate electricity. Hence it was required to purchase the electricity needed from the MSEB. In order to provide electric facility to consumers, the Electric Society established its own transformer centres, HT and LT lines and completed the project plan prepared at the time of its establishment. For the project plan, the REC had sanctioned Rs.443.13 lakhs as a soft loan to the Electric Society. The 1. The main object of the Electric Society shall be to make electric energy available to its members and others in the area of operation at a reasonable price consistant with sound economy and good management. 2. To extend the electric net work in the area of operation as efficiently as possible. 3. To provide an efficient and effective services to the 41 consumers after taking into account the local conditions. 4. To undertake a programme of development in the area of operation thereby increasing agricultural productions and stimulating the growth of rural industries. 5. To ensure local participation in the management of distribution of electricity to the rural area. c) Area of Operation At the time of formation of the Electric Society, the MSEB handed over the assets worth Rs.193.25 lakhs spread in 166 villages. The Electric Society covers the entire Shrirampur <75 villages) and Rahuri <82 villages) talukas, five villages from Sangamner taluka and four villages from Newasa talukas. The total area of operation of the Electric Society is 1880 sq.