Munde, who holds the Energy portfolio, was replying to a special discussion on the condition of farmers in the state.

The insurance scheme likely to be launched on May 1 will insure farmers against frequent transformer burnouts. The premium will be paid by the government, Munde informed the House. Other sops include an amnesty scheme to legalise illegal connections for agricultural pumps and a definite area-wise time-table for load-shedding to avoid arbitrary breakdowns.

These incentives are the latest in a series of benefits advanced to farmers by the government.

The special discussion was initiated by leader of the Opposition Madhukar Pichad to ``highlight the pathetic conditions of farmers'' plagued by irregular and inadequate power supply and frequent transformer burnouts.

Congress MLAsArun Gujrathi, Dilip Valse Patil, Digvijay Khanvilkar and Jayant Patil spoke about the impact of erratic power on agricultural and industrial productivity in rural areas and on the daily lives of the villagers.

Tasgaon, for instance, recently went without drinking water for 23 days due to inadequate power supply, the members said. In other areas, villagers had to do without wheat flour for days on end, they added.

Munde admitted that the Maharashtra State Electricity Board (MSEB) had to resort to load-shedding of 1100 to 1600 megawatts from January this year. He also acknowledged that there was a severe shortage of transformers the demand was for more than 20,000 transformers, against which the MSEB had managed to provide just 5000.

``Power shortage is a reality, so is load-shedding. But we have to find solutions around it,'' he told the House.

An investment of nearly Rs 1025 crore is needed to straighten out the current transmission and distribution system in 17 zillas, he said. He agreed to theCongress members' suggestion that funds be borrowed from urban and district cooperative banks willing to offer such credit.

Munde said the increased demand for power supply in rural areas was due to a good monsoon. The government and MSEB, he pointed out, had to cater to a total of 24 lakh irrigation pumps.

The amnesty scheme for illegal pump connections would be discussed with the Opposition, Munde said, adding it may involve a one-time deposit of Rs 10,000 to legalise an illegal connection.

The Opposition members said the most frequently received complaint was that it took weeks, often two to three months, to repair a burnt transformer. Munde agreed to meet the members on a one-to-one basis during the current session to sort out specific problems.