Amidst severe drought conditions in some states, the Centre is mulling designating farming as an essential service on the lines of the railways and Metro networks so that it can get dedicated power supply for the purpose of irrigation.
Union power minister Vee-rappa Moily told this newspaper that he is thinking of “islanding” the farming sector for consistent power supply.
The metereological depa-rtment had said on Friday that the monsoon this year would be deficient.