The Hindu : Karnataka / Bidar News : Free power to farmers must not stop: KRRS

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Thursday, Jun 30, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bidar

Free power to farmers must not stop: KRRS

Staff Correspondent

BIDAR: The Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha has criticised the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, for opposing free supply of power to farmers. Farmers' unions will lead a nationwide agitation if States stop supplying free power to farmers, the KRRS State unit president, Basavaraj Tambake, told presspersons in Humnabad on Tuesday.

"Dr. Singh's view that power companies will suffer huge losses if farmers are given free power is not justified. In fact, free power supply will boost agricultural production and increase the Gross Domestic Product of the country," Mr. Tambake said.

He said the Government spends an average of Rs. 1.5 lakh to irrigate an acre of land. Most of the money invested in irrigation projects is external aid and the Government's interest burden is increasing each day. But farmers in rain-fed regions use open wells or borewells and save the Government crores of rupees. In such situations, the Government should realise that providing free power is its responsibility and not a favour, he said. He demanded that the Government provide 100 per cent power subsidy to farmers and pay the power companies from its funds. He also urged the Government to not stop farmers from drawing water from rivers or irrigation canals. By this, farmers are increasing the area under irrigation without public investment and increasing production.

He demanded that the Union and State Governments consult agriculture experts before deciding on agricultural policies.

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