Irrigation pumpsets will get power supply during the day, says Shivakumar
The State government plans to provide power supply to irrigation pumpsets during the day, by installing solar plants in each taluk under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (KUSUM), Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar said on Sunday.
'We plan to set up at least 20 megawatt solar power stations in each taluk. This will help farmers get power during the day,' he said at the launch of tank-filling schemes in Akki Alur of Haveri district.
As of now, the power supply companies supply power to irrigation pumpsets for seven hours during the night.
'It was the former Chief Minister S. Bangarappa who began the practice of providing free power supply to irrigation pumpsets. Later, as Power Minister in 2013, I extended the duration to supply three-phase power supply to seven hours at night, from six hours. This has helped farmers immensely. In future, we will supply power during the day,' he said.
He said that the State government has released ₹665.75 crore for development of Hangal constituency. 'The tank-filling scheme being taken up at a cost of ₹534 crore will help farmers in 81 villages in Haveri district. We are also considering linking Varada river with Bedti river. The project might cost ₹2,018 crore. It has been presented before the Union government through the National Rivers Authority,' Mr. Shivakumar said.
He said that the BJP is needlessly criticising the Congress government. 'Recently, we increased the price of milk by four rupees a litre to help farmers. Has the government taken anything from this amount? No. We have given it to the farmers. But the BJP cannot tolerate that as it is anti-farmers, obviously,' he said.
'The prices of all commodities from essential goods to tangible assets have increased. The price of 10 grams of gold, which was ₹30,000 a decade ago, has gone up to ₹1 lakh. But when the prices go up due to the wrong policies of the Centre, the State BJP does not raise its voice against it. But now, they are angry with the Congress, saying we are responsible for inflation. When the State BJP is planning its anti-price rise rally, the Centre increased the price of petrol, diesel and cooking gas. It was done the same day. The BJP does not understand that those in power should stand with the poor and not try to pick-pocket them,' he said.
He said that while the Centre collected over ₹4.5 lakh crore in taxes from Karnataka in a year, it returned only around 13% of the amount. 'Despite this injustice, we have presented a budget of over ₹4 lakh crore. We have fulfilled the guarantee promises made before coming to power. We have stood by you who have been shaken by the price hike,' he said.
The BJP, which was opposing our guarantee schemes, later announced the same guarantees during the Maharashtra, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and Delhi elections. 'Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi ridiculed us saying that the schemes will bankrupt us. But the BJP copied our schemes. We have to realise that due to our guarantee schemes of over ₹52,000 crore per year, each family has been able to save around ₹5,000-₹6,000 per month,' he said.
'We have come here today to repay your debt in return for power you have given us. You have trusted our party and elected us. We are grateful to you for that,' he said.
'Hangal MLA Srinivas Mane is a very active MLA. He is doing work that is beneficial to the people not only in irrigation and public works but also in all departments. He is providing the necessary work to the farmers from the revenue and electricity departments. Even without the support of the community, he has been serving the people for the last two decades. You are the one who made him win in the by-election even when the BJP government was in power and put your trust in us,'he said.
He recalled that it was Haveri district that helped former Chief Minister S. Nijalingappa get a political rebirth.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
15 minutes ago
- Time of India
Trump's strike on Iran raises strategic, political risks ahead of retaliation
Trump's strike on Iran raises strategic, political risks ahead of retaliation Two days after offering Iran a two-week deadline to avoid military action, US President Donald Trump announced airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities. The attack, carried out Saturday evening, June 21, marked a sharp escalation in tensions and introduced new uncertainties regarding military outcomes and domestic political fallout. 'Two weeks' turned out to be two days. On Thursday, Trump presented Iran with a negotiation window to avert a strike. By Saturday, he declared the strikes 'very successful' in a social media post, adding, 'Now is the time for peace.' Also read: In his own words: Trump's Iran strike tests his rhetoric on ending wars by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Air conditioners without external unit. (click to see prices) Air Condition | Search Ads Search Now Undo It remains unclear whether the original deadline was a tactical feint or if negotiations, reportedly led by Trump envoy Steve Witkoff, collapsed behind the scenes. Trump's message of seeking peace contrasts with the risks of retaliation from Iran , which had previously warned against US involvement in the conflict initiated by Israel. Iran retaliation expected as strike objectives unclear Live Events Among the sites struck was the Fordow nuclear facility, considered a critical component of Iran's uranium enrichment infrastructure. Analysts note that Iran maintains a range of retaliatory capabilities and that the airstrikes may not have neutralized its nuclear operations. Iran's response to direct US involvement is now the central question. The US airstrikes followed weeks of Israeli operations aimed at degrading Iranian military capabilities. However, Tehran retains substantial resources and has warned that further escalation could prompt regional consequences. Trump's strategy appears to involve pressuring Iran into negotiations. However, analysts question whether military action will succeed where diplomacy during Israeli strikes did not. 'Now is the time for peace,' Trump wrote, but Iran's previous refusal to engage under fire suggests continued resistance, not compliance. Also read: Trump wins immediate praise from Republicans in Congress after announcing strikes on Iran It will take time to determine whether the strikes inflicted lasting damage on Iran's fortified nuclear facilities. If they failed to achieve their core objectives, calls for additional US military action may increase, placing greater pressure on the administration and military planners. Domestic backlash grows over US military escalation Saturday's strikes also carry significant domestic political implications. Critics from both major parties have questioned the strategic necessity of the operation. Within Trump's own 'America First' political movement, concerns are growing over US involvement in another potential Middle East conflict. If the operation is limited to a one-off strike, Trump may contain the political fallout. However, any move toward sustained engagement risks alienating voters who supported his non-interventionist stance during the 2024 campaign. Trump frequently highlighted that he initiated no new wars during his first term and criticized prior administrations for foreign entanglements. Having taken decisive military action, the president now faces a situation where subsequent developments may fall outside his control.
Hans India
24 minutes ago
- Hans India
Minister writes to CM on apathy over illegal mining cases
Bengaluru/Raichur: Law Minister H K Patil on Saturday said he had written a letter to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah expressing concerns over administration apathy towards taking illegal mining cases in the state to a logical end. He also wanted the culprits to be punished, and the lost wealth recovered. The senior minister, who is also in-charge of Parliamentary Affairs, has written a seven-page letter dated June 18, pointing out that only 7.6 per cent of all the cases related to illegal mining that allegedly took place between 2007 and 2011 leading to the loss of an estimated Rs 1.5 lakh crore to the government, have been investigated so far. In the letter he noted that there is outrage among people that the government has not shown honesty and commitment in its efforts towards ensuring commensurate punishments and recovery of the state's wealth, despite such a large-scale loot. He also reminded Siddaramaiah that he had led a 320-km foot march to Ballari against the illegal mining scam in 2010, when the Congress was in opposition. Patil had headed the Cabinet sub-committee, during the first Siddaramaiah-led Congress government (2013-18), which had brought the extent of loss caused by illegal mining. In Raichur, replying to questions by reporters regarding the letter, Patil said, '...I have brought it to the notice of the chief minister what has to be done, thereby it has to serve the state and the government has to get a good name, so the letter has been written. It is not a political letter. It is written in the interest of the state and its people. The CM has seen the letter and has taken the matter seriously.' Asked whether he is suspicious that documents on illegalities may be destroyed, he said with the intention that such things should not happen. He has cautioned the administration and the concerned department. Noting that the Congress party has done a padayatre (foot march) against illegal mining fifteen years ago, the minister said, despite so many years and inspite of cabinet sub-committee under 2013-18 Siddaramaiah-led Congress government submitting a report about the quantum of loss, the action taken is not satisfactory. 'Out of more than 12,000 illegal mining cases being registered, only about 7 per cent have been investigated. In just 2 per cent of these seven per cent, which means in only 0.2 per cent of the total number of cases, verdicts have come and cases have seen a conclusion,' he said. Asserting that a logical end has to be given to all these pending cases, Patil said the government lost Rs 1.5 lakh crore because of illegal mining, and with the intention that serious steps are taken in this regard, he has written a letter to the CM. He said nine cases were handed over for the CBI probe. They said they will probe only three among them and sent back the remaining six. Similarly, the cases that were referred to the Special investigation Team (SIT), most of them have still not been subjected to probe. 'So I have written the letter.' Patil, in his letter, has said that the government can still act as there is still time. Asking the government to take all the necessary measures, he suggested appointing a Recovery Commissioner as per the provisions of the Criminal Law Amendment Ordinance, 1946. He has also sought the creation of a new SIT to take up investigation of cases that have not been probed, and setting up a special court to try these cases.
Hindustan Times
27 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
UP BJP highlights social engineering at Ambedkar Smriti Sthal
The Bharatiya Janata Party utilised the occasion of the International Yoga Day on Saturday to take forward its social engineering initiative, roping in its scheduled caste and Other Backward Classes (OBC) leaders at Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar Smriti Sthal in Gomti Nagar. Neeraj, Dharampal and Brijlal (HT Photo) Most of the 5000 participants belonged to the SC and OBC communities at the venue where all BJP leaders wore T-shirts with Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar's photo. People from Lucknow slums and nearby areas also participated in hour-long yoga sessions under the guidance of yoga instructor Malvika Bajpai. A large number of people, including youth, social organisations, women and differently abled children also took part in the event. BJP's state general secretary (organisation) Dharampal Singh was the chief guest while party leader Neeraj Singh coordinated the programme. Dharampal Singh is also spearheading the party's OBC outreach programme across the state. Addressing a gathering after the session, Dharampal Singh stated that today, yoga has become a moral and ideological tool in the direction of equality and social justice that Baba Saheb Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar had envisioned. Due to the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi the International Yoga Day is being organized in more than 171 countries today, he added. 'Yoga is not only a physical exercise, but also a medium of social balance and mental harmony. Yoga also strengthens the unity of the country and the feeling of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,' Dharampal Singh added. Neeraj Singh stated that Dr Ambedkar struggled throughout his life to eliminate social inequality and to provide social justice to Dalits, the deprived and backward classes. Assimilating the ideals of Ambedkar, a yoga programme has been organised here today with the message of 'Ek Bharat Samras Bharat', Neeraj Singh added. An exhibition was also organised where Dr Ambedkar's life and vision was highlighted through posters. Prominent BJP leaders present at the event included two former DGPs Brij Lal and Vijay Kumar, Ambedkar Mahasabha chairman and MLC Lalji Nirmal, MLA Mukesh Sharma, state president of the SC Morcha Ramchandra Kanaujia, state vice-president of the SC Morcha Devesh Kori and former IAS officer Dinesh Chandra. Others present on the occasion included Harish Kumar, Pankaj Prasun Jatav, AK Gautam, Gangaram Ambedkar, Ram Avtar Kanaujia, Vipin Sonkar and a large number of people from the Scheduled Caste community.
