Free or not, 24x7 electricity supply is only a dream in rural areas of Karnataka

Union Power and New and Renewable Energy Minister R. K. Singh informed the Lok Sabha that the average power supply in rural Karnataka was 19.05 hours per day in the year 2022–23 whereas the average supply in urban areas was 23.82 hours (in 11 kV feeders, which are 3-phase, three-wire power distribution lines). But, a reality check by The Hindu revealed the hollowness of the claim

Answering a question in the Lok Sabha, Union Power and New and Renewable Energy Minister R. K. Singh claimed that the average rural power supply in Karnataka was 19.05 hours per day in the year 2022–23 whereas the average urban supply was 23.82 hours (in 11 kV feeders, which are 3-phase, three-wire power distribution lines).

However, a reality check in many parts of Karnataka by The Hindu shows a clear disparity between what the government claims and what the rural areas actually get.  

“Between December and March, which is when irrigation is necessary, we do not get two hours of power supply properly. Even otherwise, like in case of light rain, we do not get power for two to four days. We have stopped depending on the Energy Department for maintenance. We take our labourers, and repair transformers and fuses,” says Dinesh A.T., a planter from Balele village in Kodagu district.

In Malnad, which receives heavy rainfall, power supply is interrupted for several weeks if electrical poles are damaged. Even during the summer, there are times when rural areas do not have power all day due to a dip in production.  

“We are ready to pay for electricity. What we expect is uninterrupted electricity supply. There has not been a month where we were supplied power 24 hours every day,” said Mr. Dinesh.

On August 5, the Karnataka Government launched its ambitious Gruha Jyothi scheme to provide free power up to 200 units, even as residents of rural areas are seeking uninterrupted power supply. 

Srinivasa Murthy, a resident of Ginikallu in Sringeri taluk of Shivamogga district, said that his house gets power for about 10 hours a day. “As my place is quite remote, we get power for only 10 hours. The villages close to the main roads, where the supply lines and transformers are in good condition, get power supply for up to 13 hours a day,” he said.