Udupi: Farmers under the banner of Udupi District Krishika Sangha staged protest against the price rise of Rs. 10000 for new pump set connections on saturday.

Kudhi Srinivas Bhat, chief secretary of the association, said more linemen’s are required in the rural area for the better service. He added before finishing the rainy seasons, load shedding started and mostly concentrated on the peak hour in villages. The government has an ignorant attitude towards the farmers.

He said there is no one to control the illegal connection instead all are trying to make money out of it. Government should take immediate action against such connections.

MS Bhatt said the power tariff in Karnataka is high, when compared to other states. He added ‘Government and the leaders never get tired of telling that farmers are given free power but misused, he questioned that if the availability of water is nil in the summer what we do with the given power’.

He added under ‘Raitha Surya scheme’, government had issued notification that the farmers in the state should take part in the scheme. However the online quota finished with in 7.5 minutes, which raises many doubts in the distribution of the scheme quota.

He said government should initiate inquiry into the distribution of the scheme quota.

A memorandum was submitted to Chief Minister through MESCOM CEO.