BJP leader Hartal Halappa urges Karnataka Govt to ensure at least seven-hour power supply to agri pump sets during day time

Former Minister and BJP State vice-president Harathalu Halappa has urged the State government to supply electricity to agricultural pump sets for at least seven to eight hours during the day, as farmers are struggling to save their crops amid severe drought. He warned that the party would intensify its agitation if the demand was not met.

In a press conference in Shivamogga on Saturday (October 24, 2026) Mr. Halappa said farmers in Hosanagara, Sagar, Sorab, Shivamogga Rural and Ripponpet, among other places in the district, were facing disruptions in power supply. Owing to the weak monsoon, standing crops such as paddy and maize are drying up, and areca plantations also faced the threat of damage due to water shortage.

“Earlier, farmers received seven hours of power a day. Officers now say they have received instructions from senior officials to supply six hours. In reality, however, even this is not supplied continuously, as power is cut for 30 to 45 minutes at a time, so farmers do not get the full supply.” Officers have not responded to requests to provide the lost hours later, he alleged.

Since pump sets receive power only at night, farmers around Ripponpet in Hosanagara taluk have to go to their farms after dark to irrigate their plantations, despite the threat from wild elephants in the area. There have been fatalities in elephant attacks in the past, he said. Farmers in the area had staged protests demanding daytime power for their safety.

Mr. Halappa also pointed out that vacancies in the Mangalore Electricity Supply Company (MESCOM) were contributing to the problem. The shortage of officers and linemen was affecting the maintenance and repair of power lines.

He called for steps to ensure adequate power supply before the situation worsens in the coming summer, and warned that the party would intensify its protests across the district if the government did not respond.