More than 60,000 contractors, labourers, and their families will suffer if the State government and Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) provide a licence to the Tata Power Company Limited (TPCL) for distribution of electricity,” said C. Ramesh, State president, Karnataka State Licensed Electrical Contractors Association.

Addressing over 5,000 contractors who had gathered at Freedom Park in Bengaluru on Monday, Mr. Ramesh said, “It will be a huge injustice by the State government to thousands of families if private players enter the ecosystem. They will hire their own men for electricity supply and other works. Moreover, their focus will only be on urban areas rather than rural areas. Rural areas will be left to suffer. We have ten demands that the State government must fulfil or else, we will continue this protest.”

Questioning the TPCL and their petition, he asked, “Why did the TPCL apply for a licence for parallel power distribution in 15 districts, especially in Bengaluru? Why haven’t they applied for the same in Kodagu or Mysuru? Because they know that they will benefit the most in Bengaluru compared to any other district. It is a revenue-generating metro city with many IT companies. When contractors and labourers work in places like Kodagu and Mysuru, it shows that they are service-oriented rather than just out to make a profit.”

Meanwhile, various farmer organisations that were also part of the protest have warned of shutting down State highways if the government goes ahead with their decision. “There is a risk that the free and subsidised electricity facilities being provided to farmers in the State for agricultural pump sets will be reduced or cancelled. This could be a major blow to the agriculture sector. If the cost of electricity increases, the cost of irrigation also increases. As a result, the cost of agricultural production increases, which directly affects the income of farmers,” said Muninarayanappa from Chitradurga, one of the farmers present at the protest.

No Gruha Jyothi

Contractors across also warned that lakhs of families who are getting free electricity facility under the State government’s Gruha Jyothi scheme will lose it.

V. Ram Prasath Manohar, Managing Director, Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited, requested contractors to withdraw their protest and promised to meet with them on June 27.