Karnataka   

Farmers in tax net not eligible for free power in Karnataka

Bangalore: A day after Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa announced free power for irrigation pump sets up to 10 HP, Minister for Energy K.S. Eshwarappa has clarified that farmers in the income tax bracket will not be eligible for the free supply even though they had installed pump sets with a capacity of less than 10 HP.

The Minister was replying to questions by M.P. Nadagouda of the Janata Dal (United) and H.C. Neeravari of Janata Dal (Secular) in the Legislative Council on Friday.

Mr. Eshwarappa said that the government would conduct an energy audit in the irrigation sector by fixing meters for all irrigation pump sets free of cost for accessing the overall power consumption for agricultural purposes across the State soon.

He clarified that the purpose of fixing meters to irrigation pump sets was only to measure the power consumption level and prevent the alleged large-scale power theft by unscrupulous persons for non-agricultural purposes in the name of irrigation.

Seeking the cooperation of farmers in the government’s effort to conduct energy auditing, Mr. Eshwarappa assured that the government would never impose any tariff on the consumers. He said that its commitment to supply free power for 17.21 lakh farmers using up to 10 HP irrigation pump sets would cause an estimated additional burden of Rs. 825 crore on the exchequer.

He said hydel power generation was expected to be bleak owing to inadequate rain and the reservoir levels at Linganamakki and Shivanasamudram touching a low.

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