Bengaluru: Energy Minister D K Shivakumar told the Council that the government would not insist that farmers install meters for their irrigation pump sets.
He, however, said electricity supply companies (ESCOMS) are ready to supply 24/7 power to those who are ready to pay for it. Replying to BJP’s G S Nyamagouda, Shivakumar said Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission has told ESCOMs to ensure that all IP sets have meters to determine the exact quantum of electricity being used for agriculture. He said the government has decided to bear the installation cost of the meters.
“The response from farmers is poor as they have apprehensions that the ESCOMS would stop free supply of power later.” He said that on a conservative estimate, the agriculture sector consumed 39 per cent of the total electricity supplied in the state.