The Hindu : Karnataka / Mangalore News : Govt. collecting power bills forcibly: KRRS

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Apr 18, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka - Mangalore

Govt. collecting power bills forcibly: KRRS

Staff Correspondent

`Villagers are apprehensive because of the action of the government authorities who are forcing farmers to pay bills with the help of police'

MANGALORE: The government agencies are collecting electricity bills of irrigation pumpsets forcibly from farmers in villages, alleged K.T. Gangadhar, general secretary, Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS), here on Sunday.

Addressing a rally of farmers organised by the KRRS to observe World Farmers Martyrs' Day, he alleged that villagers were apprehensive because of the action of the government authorities. They are forcing farmers to pay bills with the help of police.

He said the KRRS would continue to fight against this action of the Government. The Government shows only lip sympathy to farmers. Whichever Government comes to power, the living condition of farmers has remained the same.

Mr. Gangadhar said there are 147 Agricultural Produce Marketing Committees (APMCs) in the State. Of the agricultural yield produced in the State, they get only 35 per cent of produces from farmers for marketing. The annual cess revenue (collected from farmers) of these APMCs stands at an approximate of Rs. 10,000 crores.

If the Government exempted farmers from paying electricity bills of irrigation pumpsets, it will cost it Rs. 5,400 crores a year.

If it gave 50 per cent exemption in paying bills, it will cost the Government Rs. 2,700 crores a year. In such a situation, he wondered how exempting farmers from paying power bills of pumpsets would be a burden on the Government?

Mr. Gangadhar criticised the last Government for allegedly waiving power bills of Rs. 106 crores of an industry near Bellary owned by a former Minister. He claimed that the Government has failed to come to the rescue of farmers who have been affected by drought.

The Government is not giving even moral support to farmers to prevent suicides among them.

As a result, farmers are migrating to cities in search of jobs and food.

Except in the coastal belt, in most of the villages in the north, central and southern parts of the State at least two persons from each farmer home have migrated to the cities to earn a livelihood.

Mr. Gangadhar alleged that the Government was following the economic policy dictated by the World Bank. It withdrew subsidy for fertilizers and other farm inputs.

As a result, the price of farm inputs increased thus affecting farmers. He said the Government has started perceiving agriculture from a business angle.

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