Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru (MS)

Bengaluru, Feb 14: Energy minister Sunil Kumar said that the ruling BJP government is ready to deal the electricity situation of the state and uninterrupted power will be supplied this summer so that farmers and students will not face problems for their crops and examinations respectively. In addition, the minister assured that there is no proposal whatsoever to increase the electricity tariff at present.

Sunil Kumar was answering the questions raised by house members during question and answer session as well as zero hour.

Sunil further said, “Under PM Kusum-B scheme, union government will provide 30% subsidy to solar pump sets having 7.5 hp capacity. State government will provide 30% subsidy to beneficiaries of general category of farmers and 50% to SC/ST farmers. The remaining amount will be accumulated from farmer beneficiaries and the scheme is implemented through CREDEL.”

“Already the ESCOMs have a loan of Rs 72000 crore on them. Free electricity of 200 units is assured already. If this is the case, what would be the financial state of ESCOMS?” questioned BJP member D S Arun indirectly taunting the Congress announcement of free electricity of 200 units.

Answering the query of Arun, Sunil said, “Already schemes like Bhagyjyoti and Kuteerajyoti are in implementation in the state. 75 units of free electricity is declared to SC/ST families. Nearly 24 lac beneficiaries will get the benefit of this scheme. Due to these freebies, loan of ESCOMs is increasing by leaps and bounds. The government is not ready to make ESCOMs pauper in the fierce competition to announce freebies.”