Date:09/06/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/06/09/stories/2003060901420300.htm

Southern States - Karnataka

KPRS rally in Koppal on June 19

By Our Staff Correspondent

Koppal June 8 . The Karnataka Pranta Raita Sangha (KPRS) will hold a rally in Koppal on June 19 to protest against the move of the KPTCL to fix meters to irrigation pump sets and to collect monthly rental for domestic meters.

The President of the sangha, M.D. Nanjundaswamy, will preside over the rally.

Addressing presspersons here on Sunday, the State General Secretary of the sangha, Kodihalli Chandrashekar, said the KPTCL was forcing the farmers to fix meters to IP sets, though they were affected by drought.

He said the KPTCL, which collected deposit from the consumers, was collecting monthly rental for domestic meters.

The corporation was resorting to disconnection drive, if the consumers disagreed with its move, he said.

He said the farmers and consumers would be asked to fight against these "unscientific methods" of the KPTCL.

The sangha would ask the KPTCL not to insist on farmers to fix meters to their IP sets.

He said the sangha would take steps to remove meters from the IP sets if the demands of farmers were not met.

On Saturday, police arrested four KPRS leaders in Koppal when 500 farmers staged a "rasta roko" urging the KPTCL to resume power supply to Hireagnal, Gondabal, Kasankindi, and Allanagar villages in the district.

The KPTCL disconnected power supply to these villages when the people opposed fixing of meters to their IP sets.