LUCKNOW, July 1 -- More than two years after the Uttar Pradesh government announced free electricity for private agricultural tubewell consumers, official data shows that less than half of the intended beneficiaries have so far chosen to avail the benefit.

This, according to officials, is because a large number of farmers are not willing to fulfil the conditions that came as riders with the free power scheme implemented as part of the BJP's promise made to farmers in the 2022 election manifesto.

A detailed note prepared recently by Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) for the state government reviewed the implementation of the government order dated April 6, 2024, under which private tubewell consumers became eligible for fre...