Addressing media persons at a news conference in Mangalore on Wednesday, Vijay Hegde, State Vice-President, Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha said that the profit-oriented policies of Mangalore Electricity Supply Company (MESCOM) have put the farmers and people of DK and Udupi in dire straits.
“MESCOM is looking at things in terms of earning profits. The undivided Dakshina Kannada district did not face lack of electricity when it was being supplied from Jog power production unit. In fact it was enough for us for the next 100 years. But now, with the UPCL coming into the picture, electricity is being diverted from Jog to Hasan and Bangalore and we have been deprived of power. UPCL is an illegal project and the court will decide the matter in our favour. The policies of MESCOM are responsible for this suffering people of our district are going through”, he said.
Mr. Hegde groused against the KERC's move of increasing electricity prices once in three months, calling it a systematic ploy used to please power generating and supplying companies. Once an agreement is signed with companies on purchase of electricity for 2-3 years, it is wrong on KERC's part to hike prices every three months, he said.
Alleging S Sumanth, Managing Director, MESCOM, of displaying irresponsible behaviour and harassing farmers, Mr. Hegde said that Mr. Sumanth must tender a public apology for his actions.
“MESCOM officials on the orders of the MD are harassing the farmers. Their lands are snatched to set up electricity units and poles. False cases are registered against farmers, lathi attacks are made on them, besides depriving them of power supply”, Mr. Hegde said.
The farmer community along with fishermen and other members of the civil society enraged by MESCOM's policies will lay siege of the company MD's office on April 8, Mr. Hegde said.
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