Krishik Sangha protests against fees for pump-sets

Krishik Sangha protests against fees for pump-sets

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Oct 21, 2014:  Members of Udupi district Krishik Sangha staged a protest in front of the Mescom office, protesting against the government notification which had directed the farmers to pay extra fee of Rs 10,000 for a new irrigation pumpset connection.

Addressing the protesters, President Bantakallu Ramakrishna Sharma said that the notification is anti-farmer in nature and will be a burden on small farmers. The notification should be withdrawn immediately.  The farmers are already bearing the brunt of crop damage and loss following heavy rain. The load shedding will also affect farmers, he said.

He said the power tariff in Karnataka is high, when compared to other states. The power tariff should be decreased by looking into all possibilities and check transmission loss. He demanded that the government should take measures to recruit linemen in rural areas. There is shortage of linemen in rural areas, which has affected the adequate supply of electricity.

He expressed qualms over the Raitha Surya Scheme, wherein the government had issued notification that the farmers in the state should take part in the scheme. The online quota has already been filled within a short span of time. This raises doubts over the quota under the scheme. A memorandum was submitted to Chief Minister through Mescom MD.