Frequent power disruption, low voltage affects farmers, residents in Kodagu

Coffee growers in rural areas of the Kodagu district are affected by the poor supply of electricity. Balele, Devanoor, Nittur, Karmadu, Kottageri and surrounding areas have been suffering from low voltage problem.

There are 7,000 consumers in these villages. The problem will be solved if a new substation is set up, said the farmers.

The lack of space for setting up a new substation is another problem faced by CESC.

The frequent disruption in power and low voltage has been affecting the day to day activities of the people.

A majority of the coffee growers in the area have completed coffee harvest. Now, they are unable to irrigate the plantation using the pumpset.

The delay in irrigating the plants will affect the blossoming of the coffee plants, which in turn, will have an impact on next year’s harvest. Owing to the unreliable power supply, several pumpsets have been damaged.

The laying of the insulation cable did not provide a permanent solution to the problem in Balele. Though CESC laid an express line at a cost of Rs 1.47 crore in 2017-18, and electricity connections were given to Kiruguru, Nallur and Ponnappasanthe, the problem has not been solved.

Owing to frequent disruption in power supply, farmers cannot complete online works at Balele Krishi Samparka Kendra.

As many as 2,000 farmers from Nallur, Basagoor, Dhanugala, Rudrabeedi, Balele, Devanoor, Nittur and Kottageri have been dependent on the Krishi Kendra in Balele for various works related to farming activities.

Hence, the farmers are forced to visit the Krishi Kendra in Virajpet.

“Even the UPS also could not be charged fully in a day,” said the residents.

Owing to the increase in load, fire sparks were noticed on the 11 KV line which supplies electricity from the Ponnampet substation.

“We get proper voltage during the night. But, we cannot irrigate coffee plants fearing the attack of wild animals,” said farmers.

Speaking to DH, Assistant Engineer Neela Shetty said, “Electricity is supplied from Hunsur power centre to Periyapattana. Capacitor banks are used for power-factor correction in Balele. If the consumers experience any problem, they should inform the CESC office. The problem will be solved if a new substation is set up.”

About 1.5 acres of land is required. People should also cooperate. KPTCL can purchase the land at the price fixed by the government, added the assistant engineer.

Nittur GP member Katimada Shareen said a new substation should be set up to solve the problems related to voltage. KPTCL should act in this regard.

We face disruption in power supply in summer as well as in the monsoon, he said.

Coffee grower Mechanda Kisha from Balele said, “I have purchased a submersible pump with a generator to irrigate the farmland.”

Assistant Engineer Neela Shetty said that the work on the new substation will commence once the land is finalised.