State only getting Rs. 2098 crore under 'Krishi Sanman': CM Kumaraswamy

03:09PM Tue 5 Feb, 2019

Bengaluru, Feb 5: Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy said, the state will get only Rs 2098 crore under central government sponsored 'Krishi Sanman' scheme, while the state government has been giving Rs 11000 crore as subsidy to pump set users. Speaking at the releasing of logo of BESCOM consumers awareness programme 2019, solar panel and power enabled vehicles recharging station, organised by the BESCOM at Halasur here on Tuesday, the Chief Minister said that the state was not getting much benefits from the scheme announced by the central government in its budget. Only 59-60 lakh farmers of the state would get the benefit. But the Energy department of the state government has been giving Rs 11000 crore subsidy to the farmers for their pump sets. “With the free distribution of power, the power companies were under loss. The BESCOM itself was under loss at the time, of Rs. 4000 crore. So far it has not repaid it. The Chescom has Rs 800 crore loans and the KPTCL has the burden of Rs 16000 crore. Due to delay in payment of subsidy, the Escoms have been incurring minimum Rs 3000 crore to Rs 4000 crore loss. Farmers should also understand this. The farmers were being given free power since 2008 due to which, the subsidy dues have increased from Rs 4000 crore to Rs 11000 crore”, he said. “In rural areas, the linemen and other staff should take precautionary measures for their safety. Awareness should also be created among consumers. The state was marching towards self sustainability in power production. But due to lapses, it was not succeeded”, he said. BESCOM Ombudsman chairman SS Pattana Shetty said that consumer was important here as he was not dependent to anybody. He has given the opportunity to serve him. “We are not helping him through our service. Instead, we should thank them for giving us such an opportunity. So, we have to serve them better”, he said. “Consumer Reddressal Forum was constituted in 2004 and the consumers should submit their grievances to the Forum. Every Saturday, the consumers could find solution to their problems. The forums were formed in all districts. But the consumers do not have information about it. The forums would report to the centre on complaints received and action taken. Surprisingly, there were no complaints in some districts. The consumers could lodge complaints if the companies have failed to provide around 15 services including delay in service, billing and others. The district level forums would give verdicts within 60 days and if the complaints were not resolved, they could move the state level Ombudsmen”, he said. Power Department Additional Chief Secretary Ravi Kumar, BESCOM managing director Shikha, KASIA president Basavaraj Javali, Peenya Industrial Area Association president MN Giri, BESCOM citizens forum president Srinivas Marali, MLA Bhoje Gowda and others were present. “If quality power and scientific price is ensured to their agriculture produces, the farmers would not ask free power. Steps have been taken to check the wastage of power by laying the power cable underneath. In future, the power cables laid already would be converted into underground cables. Along with this, internet Optical Fibre cable would also be laid”. Source: Vartha Bharathi