The hopes of farmers, who are depending on electricity, were raised when Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa inaugurated the project to provide uninterrupted power supply in Masti in Malur taluk in November, 2008.
Although the situation is better than before the implementation of the project, the hopes of the people in the taluk for uninterrupted power supply are dwindling quickly.
Paper work
Since the implementation of the project, farmers have had to wait perpetually for electricity to carry on their agricultural work. The schedule to provide electricity six hours a day has remained only on paper. Supply of electricity is switched on and off. A lot of people here complain that there is no power for even three to four hours a day.
Since agricultural work comes to a standstill due to shortage of power supply, farmers often have to remain at home and spend time watching television or just lazing around, says Nanjappa, a farmer. BESCOM is showered with abuses by students who find darkness in evenings curtailing their study. Factory owners have opted for other means of power supply to carry on their work.
“Complaining about lack of power supply is an unending process. Since the Nirantara Jyoti Project has been implemented in my village, it proves a blessing for my tea-stall in the mornings,” smiles Muniraju of Dinnahalli village.
Such instances of happiness and displeasure surround the Nirantara Jyoti Project in Malur. The taluk requires 135 MW of electricity. At present, 60 to 65 MW of electricity is all that is supplied. Therefore, there is regular power cut.
The problem can be solved by increased generation of power. Also, farmers and civilians should be prudent using electricity, said BESCOM Assistant Engineer T Ramakrishnappa.
In the midst of such a situation, the State Government is planning to extend the Nirantara Jyoti Project to 70 more districts. An amount of Rs 1200 crore has been alloted for the project in the 2010-11 budget. It has also been decided to complete the project within two years. However, in the question for the moment is the future of the existing project at Malur.