Any action against illegal pump sets can topple government!

Energy Minister D K Shivakumar bluntly said attempts to remove illegal agriculture pump sets in the State will topple government More than 1.08 lakh pump sets are illegal, using up 30 per cent of total power. This number includes those set up by people to directly draw water from the rivers

When a minister is asked a question and he asks back if he should tell the truth or present reality, it is inevitable that he will be asked to tell the truth.

The same happened when Energy Minister D K Shivakumar had to respond to a question by BJP’s Ganesh Karnik about illegal agricultural pumpsets. DKS asked if he should tell the truth or present the reality.  Everybody said he should tell the truth. Hence he revealed the truth that there are 1.08 lakh illegal pumpsets in the State utilising 30 per cent of the power generated.

He further explained that this number includes those set up by people to directly draw water from the rivers. Some pumpsets are installed as far as 20 km distance from the river. He said this has turned out to be a business of sort and any attempts to take action will result in law and order situation, also culminate in toppling the government, besides shaking the Opposition chair, he said.

He urged that all of the legislators should sit together, discuss and find a solution for this problem. He expressed displeasure that, illegal pumpsets use the major part of the total 30 per cent of the power in the State utilised by pumpsets.

Answering a question by Pradeep Shettar of BJP, D K Shivakumar said power generation in the State is in excess and in some regions power supply is guaranteed 24 hours. He instructed the MLA to get a reply on SMS regarding the quantum of power supplied to each constituency.  BESCOM is already providing this service, soon HESCOM will also start providing the same service.

BJP’s Bhanuprakash took objection to the Kannada translation of the term linesman as Margadalu. Srikategowda of JD(S) replied that like bus and car, linesman can be adapted to Kannada as it is.

The Cabinet Committee of the Energy Department set up to investigate into the power purchase scan during BJP rule has been extended for the 4th time till July 6th.  A Cabinet Committee, headed by D K Shivakumar,  was set up to inquire into the allegations of corruption to the tune of Rs 17,000 crore in power purchase, two years ago.  Speaker Koliwad had instructed D K Shivakumar to present its report in the Assembly Session. It was scheduled to be presented last Tuesday but due to huge absenteeism of MLAs, it was not presented.  On Tuesday a joint session was held and committee member former CM H D Kumaraswamy presented statistics regarding power purchase during the previous government.  BJP members Vishveshwara Hegde Kageri and Basavaraj Bommai requested for extension of time and hence it is extended till July 6.