CHENNAI: State Electricity Minister V Senthilbalaji said the government has provided farmers with around 1.70 lakh free power connections during the last three years.

The minister added that as much as 3,38,380 acres of agricultural land have received irrigation. "After former Chief Minister M Karunanidhi launched the free power connection scheme for farmers in the State in 1989-90, villages grew and agricultural land expanded. Moreover, farmers became self-sufficient. In 2010-2011, as many as 77,158 connections were given in a single year," he said in a statement.