Irrigation pumpsets will get power supply during the day, says Shivakumar

Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakkumar (left) and others taking part in a programme to launch tank-filling projects in Akki Alur of Haveri district on Sunday.
| Photo Credit: SANJAY RITTI

The State government plans to provide power supply to irrigation pumpsets during the day, by installing solar plants in each taluk under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (KUSUM), Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar said on Sunday.

“We plan to set up at least 20 megawatt solar power stations in each taluk. This will help farmers get power during the day,” he said at the launch of tank-filling schemes in Akki Alur of Haveri district.

As of now, the power supply companies supply power to irrigation pumpsets for seven hours during the night.

“It was the former Chief Minister S. Bangarappa who began the practice of providing free power supply to irrigation pumpsets. Later, as Power Minister in 2013, I extended the duration to supply three-phase power supply to seven hours at night, from six hours. This has helped farmers immensely. In future, we will supply power during the day,” he said.

He said that the State government has released ₹665.75 crore for development of Hangal constituency. “The tank-filling scheme being taken up at a cost of ₹534 crore will help farmers in 81 villages in Haveri district. We are also considering linking Varada river with Bedti river. The project might cost ₹2,018 crore. It has been presented before the Union government through the National Rivers Authority,” Mr. Shivakumar said.

He said that the BJP is needlessly criticising the Congress government. “Recently, we increased the price of milk by four rupees a litre to help farmers. Has the government taken anything from this amount? No. We have given it to the farmers. But the BJP cannot tolerate that as it is anti-farmers, obviously,” he said.

“The prices of all commodities from essential goods to tangible assets have increased. The price of 10 grams of gold, which was ₹30,000 a decade ago, has gone up to ₹1 lakh. But when the prices go up due to the wrong policies of the Centre, the State BJP does not raise its voice against it. But now, they are angry with the Congress, saying we are responsible for inflation. When the State BJP is planning its anti-price rise rally, the Centre increased the price of petrol, diesel and cooking gas. It was done the same day. The BJP does not understand that those in power should stand with the poor and not try to pick-pocket them,” he said.

He said that while the Centre collected over ₹4.5 lakh crore in taxes from Karnataka in a year, it returned only around 13% of the amount. “Despite this injustice, we have presented a budget of over ₹4 lakh crore. We have fulfilled the guarantee promises made before coming to power. We have stood by you who have been shaken by the price hike,” he said.

The BJP, which was opposing our guarantee schemes, later announced the same guarantees during the Maharashtra, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and Delhi elections. “Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi ridiculed us saying that the schemes will bankrupt us. But the BJP copied our schemes. We have to realise that due to our guarantee schemes of over ₹52,000 crore per year, each family has been able to save around ₹5,000-₹6,000 per month,” he said.

“We have come here today to repay your debt in return for power you have given us. You have trusted our party and elected us. We are grateful to you for that,” he said.

“Hangal MLA Srinivas Mane is a very active MLA. He is doing work that is beneficial to the people not only in irrigation and public works but also in all departments. He is providing the necessary work to the farmers from the revenue and electricity departments. Even without the support of the community, he has been serving the people for the last two decades. You are the one who made him win in the by-election even when the BJP government was in power and put your trust in us,”he said.

He recalled that it was Haveri district that helped former Chief Minister S. Nijalingappa get a political rebirth.