JOIN USBagepalli farmers oppose power connection project
Farmers obstructed Nirantara Jyothi work taken up by Bescom outside the KSRTC local unit in Kasaba hobli of the taluk on Wednesday, demanding that the current electricity lines be utilised instead.
With the atmosphere growing tense, police arrived at the spot to ward off the farmers, after which, the Bescom work continued as before.
Jayarama Reddy, resident of Hosahudya, accused the government of focusing on the urban areas for implementation of the Nirantara Jyothi project.
“The project will not benefit the villages in any way. Agricultural work in the taluk is being carried out using water from borewells, as there are no rivers or tanks. The rural areas have been promised six hours of continuous power supply to draw water from the borewells using motors, but there are power cuts several times in-between. The cuts affect proper agricultural work,” Reddy explained.
Vairamudi, Bescom superintendent engineer, who spoke to Deccan Herald, said about 12 feeders would be put up in the taluk and 11 of these are still in the construction stage. The feeder in Puttaparthi in the taluk has Kondareddipalli, Narepalli, Abakavaripalli, Puttaparthi, Hosahudya, Etaguddapalli and others within its limits.
“Electricity supplied using the Nirantara Jyothi programmes will benefit small and medium industrial projects, drinking water supply, street lamp connections and also commercial plans. It will reach both rural and urban areas,” he said and promised unhindered power supply of six hours to rural areas.
The Bescom work outside the KSRTC office was provided with police security. The officers in-charge and the protesting farmers were involved in a verbal tussle for some time, creating a tense situation.
Bescom executive engineer A Ramesh, assistant executive engineer B M Umesh and other officers were present.
Protest outside office
Hundreds of residents of villages under Ghantamvaripalli gram panchayat in the taluk staged a protest outside the Bescom office on Wednesday.
H N Chandrashekhar Reddy, from Hosahudya, addressed the gathering and said the rural areas in Kasaba hobli were being supplied power for the last 30 years through the city lines. Referring to the drought situation in the area, Reddy demanded Nirantara Jyothi connection to the motors attached to borewells in villages for the benefit of farmers.