Chamarajanagar: Energy Minister K.J. George has assured that the Karnataka government will continue to provide free electricity for farmers’ agricultural pumpsets, reaffirming the state’s commitment to farmers’ welfare.
Key Announcements
- Speaking to the media in Chamarajanagar, George emphasized that as long as Siddaramaiah remains the Chief Minister, there will be no privatization of the power sector in the state.
- The government is purchasing electricity from other sources to ensure uninterrupted free power supply to farmers.
Aadhaar Linking for Transparency
- To prevent electricity theft, the state has made it mandatory to link Aadhaar cards with agricultural pump sets.
- This initiative will benefit genuine farmers and provide accurate data for the department. It eliminates misuse where electricity theft was often attributed to farmers. READ THIS- Bus Carrying Sabarimala Devotees Overturns in Kerala; 27 Injured
Action on Pending Applications
- The minister highlighted that under the pumpset regularization scheme, around 4 lakh applications were pending but have now been addressed.
- For agricultural pumpsets located within 500 meters of a power line, regularization steps will be taken. Those located beyond 500 meters will benefit from the KUSUM-B Solar Scheme, enabling solar-powered alternatives.
This initiative underscores the government’s focus on supporting farmers while ensuring sustainable energy management.