The Aam Aadmi Party, Mysuru unit has urged the Centre to financially support the State government for installing solar power pumps for the benefit of farmers.
For supplying free electricity to farmers, the State government was spending around ₹6,900 crores every year. There are about 34 lakh pump sets and it is estimated that an amount of ₹13,800 crores will be needed to replace them with solar pumps. If the Union government spends the remaining ₹6,900 crores, free solar pumps can be distributed to all farmers in the State, which benefits them to a large extent. At the same time, the State too can save on the subsidy extended for supplying electricity, said Aam Aadmi Party Mysuru district president Rangaiah.
In a statement here, he said that both State and union governments collect an equal amount of GST and hence must invest equally in the State’s development. It is unfair that the State should pay a subsidy of 50 per cent while the Union government offers only 30 per cent. When taxes are collected equally, it is necessary to pay out equally too, he argued.
