Krishna’s legacy

The beleaguered Karnataka Power Corporation Limited (KPTCL) is now faced with a rather pesky refund problem. The power utility is now oblige...

The beleaguered Karnataka Power Corporation Limited (KPTCL) is now faced with a rather pesky refund problem. The power utility is now obliged to refund all the irrigation pump set (IP set) dues for the last fiscal to farmers, thanks to a waiver announced by the S.M. Krishna government weeks before it was voted out of power.

KPTCL had supplied power to about 14 lakh pumpsets last year and had collected about Rs 450 crore in dues. It had collected Rs 540 per HP per annum according to the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) ruling. Though the KERC had allowed KPTCL an entitlement of Rs 720 per HP per annum, the state had directed the power utility to collect just Rs 540 per HP per annum.

Though there were hundreds of defaulters, many farmers had paid their dues which accounted for Rs 450 crore in KPTCL’s revenue. Now these honest payers are knocking on KPTCL’s doors demanding refunds and the power corporation is in a piquant situation wherein it can neither refuse nor refund.

Story continues below this ad

‘‘We cannot refuse the IP set consumers’ demands because those farmers who have paid, are legally entitled for a refund. But we are in no position to refund the money till the new government releases the money it owes KPTCL as reimbursement for farm subsidies,’’ said a senior KPTCL official.

Now KPTCL is grappling with the moral implications of the issue. Said another senior official: ‘‘Of the 14 lakh IP set consumers, only 20 per cent pay on time. Such consumers are valuable to us. But we can not honour that commitment till the government pays us.’’ The Krishna government had announced the waiver of all IP set dues for the year 2003-2003 in March 2004.

The refund problem has come as an additional blow to KPTCL which owes state-owned and private power producers a total of Rs 1,683 crore and has needs to repay loans of Rs 3,618 crore to financial institutions.

The police said the trio from Chandigarh — Rohan (21), Sumit (22), and Mohit (19) — were dhol players by profession and had procured the weapons due to an old rivalry with local residents.

Suspecting affair, Odisha lecturer assaults wife and her friend, parades them on street

India6 hr ago

A lecturer of Commerce and his associate were arrested for assaulting his wife, garlanding her with slippers and parading her on the road with her male friend. The woman, who has been living separately from her husband, was assaulted and humiliated in public. The incident was recorded and shared on social media. Police have seized evidence and are investigating the matter.

View all shorts

Live Blog