Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje

Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (EP)

Mangaluru, Oct 2: “Steep rise in the price of diesel and the increase in spare part prices of machines used to drill borewells has put the business in problem. Therefore, revision of the rates for drilling bore wells is inevitable,” said Purushotham R Shetty, president of Dakshina Kannada District Borewell Drilling Machine Owners’ Association.

He was speaking in the meeting of workers by suspending work for the last three days in Kuloor in order to draw the attention of the government to their plight.

“We work for drinking water and the betterment of farmers. We have not increased our rates though diesel prices have been rising. We have bought the machines borrowing crores of loans from banks. As maintenance cost of the machines has risen, we have to revise the rates. About thirty workers work for digging borewell. Most of them are from distant Bihar and Assam. Their wages have increased. The government is stuck to the old wages. Therefore, people and farmers should understand and cooperate,” he said.

“We have paid GST while buying machines. As the work is in favour of farmers and for basic drinking water, government should make the business free from GST,” he said.

Association office bearers, workers and others were present.