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Wednesday, Oct 08, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka

Farmers to seek special power package

Staff Correspondent

Three-hour power supply does not help farming in drought-prone region

A file photo of farmers staging a dharna in front of BESCOM Circle office in Kolar.

KOLAR: Fed up by the erratic power supply, farmers in Kolar and Chickballapur districts are set to seek a special power package to tide over the crisis. While the “unscientific” power policy of the State Government has drawn flak from the public, agitations against loadshedding have become the order of the day, particularly in the dry farming region which consists of Kolar and Chickballapur and other districts.

As the two districts are bereft of any major irrigation projects, their farmers are dependent mainly on rain and tube wells. But in this perennially drought-prone region, groundwater level has fallen to an alarming 1,000 feet deep making agriculture activity a risky task.

Despite the region being labelled as backward, the governments and the people’s representatives have not made any special efforts for its development. Governments have failed to provide a permanent irrigation project for the region notwithstanding the many struggles seeking such a facility.

Farmers in the region are now hoping for a special power policy at least to draw water for agriculture.

The erratic power supply has adversely affected agriculture activities. An attempt by a vegetable farmer in Kolar district to commit suicide a few days ago after he suffered loss due to crops drying because of poor power supply stands testimony to the gravity of situation.

While three-phase power supply is required at least for 12 hours a day for smooth agriculture activities, power is available only for three hours with frequent interruptions.

“Such a distress situation may lead to mass frustration among farmers of the region,” says Holur Shankar, Kolar taluk unit president of the Karnataka Prantha Raitha Sangha.

While farmers in this region were not benefitted by the much publicised loan waiver scheme, they are not going to derive much benefit from the free power to 10 HP irrigation pumpsets scheme.

Speaking to The Hindu here on Tuesday, Shankar said: “The free power supply scheme is a humbug.”

He said, “As the groundwater level is an average 1,000 feet deep, it is not possible to lift water using 10 HP irrigation pumpsets.” Only more than 20 HP irrigation pumpsets are capable of drawing water from such depth. Even if rain boosts the groundwater level, motors with a minimum of 15 HP are required to lift water, he said. In such a situation, not a single farmer here will benefit from the scheme, he said.

This factor alone is enough to demand a power package for the region.

The Government should draw a distinction between irrigated region and non-irrigated region as far as loadshedding is concerned.

According to L. Shankar Gowda, Superintending Engineer, Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (BESCOM), Kolar Circle, Kolar and Chickballapur districts, are getting 320 MW as against the required 500 MW power supply a day. This has forced the authorities to resort to loadshedding to streamline the supply equitably, he says.

“As a step towards special attention, a concession should be given in duration of power shutdown in Kolar and Chickballapur districts because most of the people are dependent on tube wells even for drinking water,” Chinnamma, a farmer, who took part in the agitation in front of the BESCOM office here a few days ago said.

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