Contrary to the stand of the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) on metering Irrigation Pump (IP) sets, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday assured farmers that meters would not be installed.
He told farmers at the Raithara Rakshisi-Vidyut Ulisi (Protect Farmers and Save Energy) interaction programme that the government had not hinted at installing meters to IP sets at any point of time. The Energy Department had organised the event to seek the views of farmers on installing meters to their IP sets.
The KERC had asked the Electricity Supply Companies (Escoms) to ensure that all IP sets have meters to determine the exact quantum of electricity used for agriculture. Energy Minister D.K. Shivakumar had even announced on the floor of the House that the government had decided to bear the installation cost.
“The government will not take any decision that will be detrimental to the interest of farmers. We are only asking for suggestions from them, considering the energy crisis in the State,” he clarified.
The State legislature approved the metering of IP sets in Karnataka after entering into an agreement with farmers that they would not be charged for power consumption in February.
Mr. Shivakumar had put forward the proposal following a suggestion by Leader of Opposition K.S. Eshwarappa. The 14th Finance Commission had also favoured metering IP sets.
However, stressing on the need to audit the electricity being supplied to farmers, the Chief Minister said the government had spent Rs. 6,224 crore to supply power to IP sets, and had earmarked Rs. 7,500 crore for the 2015-16 fiscal. With an increase in the number of unauthorised IP sets, metering them was one of the ways to get a realistic estimate of the ground situation.