Karnataka - Madikeri   

Coffee growers seek parity in electricity tariff

By Our Staff Correspondent

MADIKERI, SEPT. 29. The new Kodagu Irrigation Pumpset Owners Association on Wednesday demanded that the Government to bring the coffee growers on par with areca and coconut growers in terms of payment of electricity tariff concerning irrigation pumpsets in Kodagu district.

Addressing presspersons here, the president of the Gonicoppa-based association, Jammada A. Karumbaiah, said coffee growers in Kodagu were made to pay up Rs. 840 a HP of electricity used (un-metered) or Rs. 2 per unit of consumption (metered), in place of Rs. 20 a HP paid by the areca and coconut growers and other farmers elsewhere or 0.40 paise a unit of power consumed.

Coffee growers, who were facing a price crisis for the last five years, should not be discriminated against, Mr. Karumbaiah said.

Areca and coconut growers too were clubbed with coffee (also tea) growers in the past, but following agitations by the respective lobbies their category was changed and tariff reduced to be benefit them. Coffee growers should be brought on par with them, he said.

The association is affiliated to the Mangalore Zone Electricity Consumers Federation, under the Bharatiya Kisan Sangha. The federation took care of its consumers in the seven districts in south, including Kodagu.

He appealed to the estimated 800 irrigation pumpset owners in the district to pay a minimum of Rs. 20 a HP of power used or Rs. 10 a HP if irrigation pumpsets were not put to use in Kodagu. Payment of a minimum amount would avoid disconnection.

Mr. Karumbaiah appealed to the irrigation pumpset owners in the district to rally under the association's banner to seek justice.

He said the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission had refused to provide concessions to the coffee industry earlier saying coffee was a commercial crop and provided lucre. It was not correct, he claimed.

The vice-president of the association and legal advisor, M.S. Uthappa, convenor, C.A. Subbaiah, treasurer, P.S. Ganapathi, and member, K.K. Ganapathi, were present.

Support

The president of the Kodagu Irrigation Pumpset Owners Association and the Tree Rights Joint Struggle Committee in Kodagu, Jammada A. Karumbaiah, has announced the support of the committee to the proposed dharna by the Kodagu Raitha Sangha and the Landholders Association in front of the Gandhi statue here on Saturday, pressing for various demands.

The committee would also involve itself in the October 29 rally of farmers in Madikeri, Mr. Karumbaiah added.

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Coffee growers seek parity in electricity tariff

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