Lok Sabha Question No. 6228 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-04-02
Subject: Irregular Power Supply in Kolar District of Karnataka
Ministry: POWER
Asked by: Shri M Mallesh Babu

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF POWER

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.6228 ANSWERED ON 02.04.2026

## IRREGULAR POWER SUPPLY IN KOLAR DISTRICT OF KARNATAKA

6228. SHRI M MALLESH BABU:

Will the Minister of POWER be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has received reports regarding erratic power supply and low voltage issues in the Kolar district causing frequent burnout of irrigation pump sets and significant crop losses and if so, the details thereof;

(b) the current status of the feeder segregation work in Kolar under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) and the number of agricultural feeders that have been successfully separated from non-agricultural loads till date;

(c) whether the Government has finalised a roadmap for transition of these separated agricultural  feeders  to  solar  power  under  the  PM-KUSUM  scheme,  if  so,  the  details thereof;

(d) the technical and financial support available to farmers for upgrading their pumping infrastructure such as efficient pumps or motors to better handle voltage fluctuations; and

(e) whether the Government plans to implement real-time, IT-enabled monitoring of agricultural feeders in water-stressed regions like Kolar to ensure accountability from the local  DISCOMs  regarding  the  duration  and  quality  of  power  supply,  if  so,  the  details thereof?

## A N S W E R

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF POWER

(SHRI SHRIPAD NAIK)

(a): Electricity  being  a  concurrent  subject,  supply  and  distribution  of  electricity  to consumers is within the purview of the respective State Government/ distribution utility. Further,  as  per  Rule  (10)  of  the  Electricity  (Rights  of  Consumers)  Rules,  2020,  the distribution licensee shall supply 24x7 power to all consumers. However, the Commission may specify lower hours of supply for some categories of consumers like agriculture. The

Rules are applicable for all States and for all areas. As communicated by the State, the distribution utility has not received any report regarding  erratic  power  supply  or  low-voltage  issues  leading  to  frequent  burnout  of irrigation pump sets or significant crop losses in Kolar district.  Further, 7 hours of 3phase power is being supplied to all the agricultural feeders in Kolar district. As reported by the State, 291 feeders have been segregated under State scheme and through CAPEX works in Kolar district.  The State of Karnataka has not participated

(b): under Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) for feeder segregation works.

…………2.

(c) & (d): Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) scheme aims to de-dieselize the farm sector and enhance the income of farmers. Under the scheme, Central Government subsidy is given for the installation of standalone solar pumps  and  for  the  solarization  of  existing  grid-connected  agricultural  pumps.  The scheme is demand-driven, and capacities are allocated based on the demand raised by the State and milestone achieved.

The sanction and achievement of the State of Karnataka under the scheme is as below:

| Component-A (MW)   | Component-A (MW)   | Component-B (Nos.)   | Component-B (Nos.)   | Component-C (Nos.)   | Component-C (Nos.)   |
|--------------------|--------------------|----------------------|----------------------|----------------------|----------------------|
| Sanction           | Achievements       | Sanction pumps       | Achievement          | Sanction pumps       | Achievement          |
| 0                  | 0                  | 41,365               | 5,533                | 7,63,588             | 86,827               |

Further, as reported by the State, the required capacity of pumps or motors in Karnataka must be procured and installed by the IP  set  users  themselves  and  such consumers have to mandatorily install energy efficient star rated pump sets.

(e) : As  reported  by  the  State,  a  total  of  5,216  feeders  of  BESCOM  (Bangalore Electricity  Supply  Company  Ltd.)  have  been  integrated  with  the  National  Feeder Monitoring System (NFMS), out of which 2,103 are agricultural feeders. The Distribution Control Centre of BESCOM continuously monitors all such 11 kV feeders and ensures that the duration and quality of power supply to agricultural consumers is maintained as per Government of Karnataka/KERC norms.

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