Farmers’ body voices concern over reported move to privatise electricity distribution

Account subscription benefits alongside Premium Stories, Editorials, Opinions and more. Unlock these with Subscription

The View From India Looking at World Affairs from the Indian perspective.

First Day First Show News and reviews from the world of cinema and streaming.

Today's Cache Your download of the top 5 technology stories of the day.

Data Point Decoding the headlines with facts, figures, and numbers

Health Matters Ramya Kannan writes to you on getting to good health, and staying there

The Hindu On Books Books of the week, reviews, excerpts, new titles and features.

A delegation of farmers from the Karnataka State Sugarcane Growers Association submitting a memorandum against the privatisation of electricity distribution to the CESC official in Mysuru on Friday. | Photo Credit: M.A. Sriram

The Karnataka State Sugarcane Growers’ Association, led by Hallikerehundi Bhagyaraj, met in Mysuru on Friday and has decided to urge the government to drop its move to privatise electricity distribution in the State.

After holding a meeting at the Jaladarshini Guest House in Mysuru, the farmers representing the Association met Sharanamma S. Jangin of the Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation (CESC) at the latter’s office and submitted a memorandum voicing concern over the proposed move to privatise electricity.

The memorandum said that the privatisation of a public utility like the Karnataka State Electricity Transmission Corporation (KPTCL) would cause irreparable harm to the agriculture and the farming community.

Free electricity for agriculture was introduced after a prolonged struggle during the tenure of former Chief Minister S. Bangarappa. “If the sector falls into the hands of private companies, there is a possibility that such support may be discontinued. The pressure to install smart meters could also adversely affect the agricultural sector,” Mr. Bhagyaraj warned.

Pointing out that the Tata Power Company Limited, a Mumbai-based power generation and distribution company, had sought electricity distribution rights in 15 districts of Karnataka, including Mysuru, Chamarajanagar, and Hassan, which come under CESC, the farmers’ body urged the government to ensure that KPTCL does not grant a distribution licence for these areas.

Claiming that electricity tariffs charged by the private company in the cities it already operates in are higher than the rates in Karnataka, Mr. Bhagyaraj sought to question the continuation of free power supply to irrigation pumpsets for agriculture and other free and subsidised electricity supply schemes in Karna