Farmers, weavers’ groups protest against proposal to privatise power supply
Members of some farmers’ associations and weavers’ associations held a protest in Bagalkot and Banahatti in Bagalkot district on Thursday, against the State government’s proposal
Members of some farmers’ associations and weavers’ associations held a protest in Bagalkot and Banahatti in Bagalkot district on Thursday, against the State government’s proposal to privatise power supply in the State. Leaders gathered at the Basaveshwar Garden and discussed various issues related to privatisation. They said that if the sector were privatised, then the private companies would start levying heavy charges for power usage.
This would lead to an increase in the cost of cultivation and cloth production. Farmers and weavers already suffering from the high cost of inputs would continue to suffer. Secondly, farmers and weavers who are beneficiaries of schemes like free and subsidised power would stop benefiting from them. The government should immediately withdraw such plans, they said.
Basavaraj Biradar, Fakirappa Hosamani and others were present. In Banahatti, protestors took out a rally to the Tehsildar’s office and shouted slogans against the State government. They submitted a memorandum to the government, urging it to drop plans for privatisation. The State government has already privatised education, health and other vital sectors. Privatisation of power supply would further inconvenience farmers and weavers, they said.
They added that they would be pushed to the streets and that their children would starve. Ramalingappa Patil, Shivaling Ramappa, Sannavva Jakati, and other leaders were present.
The BriefWire