Intro
Minister assured seven hours power supply for farmers, promised infrastructure upgrades, and directed officials to address complaints promptly
Haveri
Textiles, Sugarcane Development and Agricultural Marketing Minister Sivananda Patil has assured farmers in Haveri district that necessary steps will be taken to improve electricity supply to agricultural pump sets. He said the government is committed to supporting farmers and addressing their long-pending power-related issues.
Chairing a meeting with farmers at the Zilla Panchayat Hall on Saturday, the Minister said all departments, including the energy sector, are working to ensure seven hours of electricity supply to farmers, as promised by the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister, and Energy Minister. He added that the government is taking steps to upgrade substations and improve transformers across the district.
The Minister acknowledged concerns raised by farmers regarding irregular power supply, delayed transformer changes, and pending infrastructure issues. He said Hescom is currently facing financial losses, but assured that efforts are being made to resolve complaints and improve services. He also directed officials to respond promptly to farmers’ calls and treat their issues as a priority.
Hubli Electricity Supply Company (Hescom) officials informed that around 300 farmers have already received quick electricity connections. They said efforts are ongoing to provide uninterrupted seven-hour supply, though in some areas electricity is being supplied in staggered phases due to demand.
Hescom Managing Director M.A. Vaishali said additional grants have been allocated to Haveri district and steps are being taken to upgrade substations and replace transformers within 72 hours. She added that sufficient buffer stock of transformers is available and recruitment of 560 candidates will be completed by May end to strengthen operations.
Officials also confirmed that there is no shortage of fertilizers or seeds in the district. The Agriculture Department stated that over 56,000 metric tonnes of fertilizer and more than 1.69 lakh quintals of seeds are available for the current season.
Farmers’ representatives raised several issues, including delays in crop insurance payments, replacement of burnt transformers, appointment of village electricians, and maintenance of drinking water units. They also demanded strict action against irregularities in seed and fertilizer distribution.
District officials assured that all concerns would be addressed as per government guidelines. The meeting was attended by MLAs, senior officials, and representatives from Hescom and the Agriculture Department.
