Date:15/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/15/stories/2008121558630600.htm

Karnataka

Byelection has done them good

K.V. Subramanya

After the bypolls were announced, it is 24x7 power supply in Doddaballapur town

— File photo

Temporary delight?: A weaver at work at a power loom in Doddaballapur.

CHICKBALLAPUR: People elsewhere in the State might be cursing the “power hungry” politicians for imposing another election on them, barely a few months after the Assembly polls. But, the byelections to the Assembly has come as a boon to owners and workers of the power-starved power looms in Doddaballapur constituency in Bangalore Rural district, which is among the eight constituencies going to the polls on December 27.

The frequent loadshedding in the past few months had pushed nearly 15,000 power looms in Doddaballapur on the verge of closure. But after the Election Commission announced the dates for the byelections, power cuts have become a thing of the past there.

Bescom has ensured that rural areas get three phase power for at least 10 hours a day.

In Doddaballapur town, its is 24x7 power supply as the election dates were announced, according to Hanumantharayappa, owner of a power loom.

Some farmers and power loom owners claimed that the Government was providing adequate and uninterrupted power supply to Doddaballapur town and its villages, fearing that the voters might turn their wrath against the ruling party.

If there is adequate power supply, three saris are woven at a power loom every day.

Workers are paid Rs. 27 to Rs. 30 a sari. In the past few months, power looms were struggling to weave even one sari a day because of the erratic power supply. This had affected the livelihood of loom owners as well as workers, who were able to earn barely Rs. 30 a day, said Nagaraj, a worker.

Although the Doddaballapur people are happy that the Government has ensured adequate supply of power, they doubt whether the same situation would continue after 5 p.m. on December 27.