Govt gains from tiff among farmer-groups over power rate

The Gujarat government appears to have emerged the winner ahead of the general elections even as the farmers have called off their strike and there has not been a full rollback in the electricity tariff for the farming sector.

More importantly, the two farmers' organisations at the forefront of the agitation that has been on for close to six months - the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (BKS) and the Gujarat Khedut Sangharsh Samiti (GKSS) - are now at loggerheads, effectively reducing the collective strength of the agitation.

Meanwhile, the state government is expected to face an additional burden of about Rs 50 crore a month because of the reduction of electricity tariff for both segments by Rs 50.

Increasing electricity tariff for the farming sector was one of the recommendations made by the Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission (GERC) in a bid to bring down the losses of the Gujarat Electricity Board (GEB).

Admitting that the collective strength of the farmers' agitation had taken a beating after the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh practically did a turnaround in its stance, the Gujarat Khedut Sangharsh Samiti said that it will now chalk out its future course of action afresh. GKSS convenor Bipin Desai said that leaders of the Sangharsh Samiti will meet in Surat to chalk out the next action plan.

"Although an announcement has been made that the agitation has been called off, the grassroot level farmers are annoyed and feel betrayed. Also, the BKS leaders were silent as the government did not give any assurance on providing connections to the three lakh pending applications of farmers," Desai said.

The GKSS convenor added that while the entire attempt seems to ensure that farmers are appeased before the elections, the move can backfire as the BKS leaders have under-estimated the strength of the farming community.

BKS state convenor Prafful Senjaliya said that "we were mentally prepared for a hike, but it was the adamant stance of the government, which made the BKS to continue the agitation and press for a complete rollback."

On the issue of farmers' strength being effectively reduced because of the two organisations having different views, Senjaliya said - "The GKSS believes the tariff is still high, let them continue with the agitation."

He added that there was no political pressure on him to agree to the higher tariff and denied that the forthcoming elections were a factor for the compromise.

Before the tariff was hiked for the farming sector in July last, farmers paid Rs 350 per horse power per year for pumps below 7.5 HP and Rs 500 per horse power per year for pumps with a capacity of over 7.5 HP. The rates were increased to Rs 1,050 and 1,200 respectively, sparking off a state wide protest by farmers.

However, the government partially rolled back the tariff in October last, reducing the rates for pumps below 7.5 HP to Rs 750 and for pumps above 7.5 HP to Rs 900 per HP per year.

Although the government maintained that it would not negotiate any further rollback, the agitation by farmers continued and grew more intense with senior national leader Laljibhai Patel embarking on an indefinite fast in Ahmedabad.

According to the agreement reached on Tuesday, farmers will have to pay Rs 700 per year per horse power instead of the Rs 750 per year per horse power. Similarly, for farmers using pumps of over 7.50 HP capacity, the tariff has been lowered by Rs 50 from Rs 900 per HP per year to Rs 850.