Growers protest against disconnection of power supply

As a mark of protest, coffee growers picketed Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation (CESC) on Monday.

During the protest conducted under the aegis of Taluk Coffee Growers' Association and Pumpset Consumers' Association, the growers protested the move by the electricity supply corporation of disconnecting power supply to the irrigation pump sets of coffee growers.

Taluk Coffee Growers Association president Mohan Bopanna said that the step by the CESC has shocked the growers who have already suffered crop losses due to the vagaries of nature.

"We are in need of water as the rains have been inadequate," he said and urged the reconnection of the power supply.

The government should provide free electricity to coffee growers who have less than 10 acres of land. Growers who have more than 10 acres of land should be provided with power supply at a subsidised rate. Also, the electricity bill of the growers using pumpset below 10 hp pump sets should be waived-off, he added.

Agricultural Credit Cooperative Society Gowdalli chairman S B Bharat Kumar said that the coffee buds are getting dried-up due to harsh weather and there is a need to supply water from lakes and streams. But the CESC officer has cut the power supply to the pump sets. In contrast, the electricity bills of businessmen are waived off.

"If the coffee growers lose their crop this time, they will lose their source of livelihood."

Prior to the protest, the coffee growers took out a rally from Mahila Samaja and formed a human chain at Puttappa Circle. Later, they laid siege to CESC office and shouted slogans against the CESC officials.

The growers stopped the protest after CESC assistant engineer Dhananjay gave in writing that the electricity supply to the growers' pump sets will not be disconnected as the taluk has been announced by the government as drought-hit.

The protestors submitted a memorandum to the government through the tahsildar on the occasion.

Jaya Karnataka Association taluk committee president C B Suresh Shetty, coffee growers S M D'Silva, Yadavanadu Ramesh and K M Lakshmana took part in the protest.