MGP Opposes Discriminatory Power Cuts in Karnataka

The state government has declared that there will be 12 hours of power cuts daily in rural areas, 4 hours in urban areas other than Bangalore and only one hour in Bangalore. Mysore Grahakara Parishat has filed a complaint before the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission stating that this discriminatory policy violates Article 14 of the Constitution of India "Equality before law.-The State shall not deny to any person equality before the law or the equal protection of the laws within the territory of India." MGP has urged that KERC should not allow the implementation of this policy.

Electricity consumers all across the state pay the same fixed charges/demand charges and so the government can not show preference to urban consumers at the cost of rural consumers and again to Bangalore at the cost of other cities in the state. The blatant discrimination evident in the announcement of the government is completely unacceptable.

The discrimination is especially galling since the government has not taken any steps to limit wasteful spending of power in urban areas (bill-board lighting, ornamental illumination, etc.) and the rural population has to pay for this urban profligacy

An obvious negative aspect of this discrimination is that the quality of life in rural areas is becoming intolerably low leading to large-scale migration to cities and the attendant social, economic and environmental problems.Such discrimination must not be a part of any welfare society.

The electricity supply companies or the state government has no authority to resort to such discrimination. Only the state electricity regulator is empowered to decide on such matters after careful deliberations and effective public hearing. Such unilateral decision on the part of the government (or the electricity supply companies) negates the tariff ruling prevailing in the state.KERC is mandated and empowered under Indian Electricity Act 2003 and Karnataka Electricity Reforms Act 1999 to supervise, control and direct the electricity supply in the state such that such discriminatory practices are eliminated.

MGP has drawn the attention of KERC to the fact that Electricity Regulatory Commissions of other states have acted to stop such discrimination. For example, in an order given on 5-5-2006, the Punjab ERC has ruled "The Commission further decides that the Board (Punjab State Electricity Board) should take adequate steps to minimize discrimination amongst consumers of different categories especially rural and urban domestic consumers as far as possible while imposing power cuts." In another order issued on 18-5-2007, PERC said "The Commission notes that there is disparity in the imposition of power cuts especially in the case of some urban centres and in rest of the State. The Commission observes that this clear discrimination between two sets of the same consumers seems to be iniquitous and without any rational basis. It would, perhaps, be best if power cuts are applied evenly in urban and rural areas of the State. If on the other hand the Board is still of the view that there are overriding compulsions to the contrary then it may draw up fair and transparent criteria that might justify any disparity in the imposition of power cuts." In a 2009 concept paper on power cuts the Uttarakhand Electricity Regulatory Commission has observed "If all such feeders are not required to be cut, requisite number of feeders only may be cut but on rotational basis so that all consumers bear the brunt of such power cuts" and then again "The practice of exempting some cities for their perceived importance should be stopped and all urban areas should be treated similarly." These are some persuasive precedents.

There are also growing suspicions in the minds of the public whether the power shortage is real in light of the copious rainfall all over the state this year. Therefore, MGP has requested KERC to

1. decide, after due public consultations and its own deliberations, whether thereÿ will be a real deficit of electricity in the state between now and June next year;

2. pass an order for improved supply side management and demand side management to overcome the deficit, if any, and

3. if the rationing of electricity is necessary, pass an order for its equitable distribution among various consumers.

 

Shankar Sharma, Mysore Grahakara Parishat

A Tip To LPG Customers

For more than a decade, MGP has been forwarding complaints received from LPG consumers to the three major supply companies, IOC, HP and BP. But despite several serious complaints, not much action was taken against the erring LPG dealers. Therefore, we were heartened to see an advertisement from Hindustan Petroleum in the local papers last week announcing the suspension of an LPG dealer, Samrat Gas Services and the transfer of service to Raghavendra Agencies. It is learnt that this suspension is a result of innumerable consumer complaints agaisnt the gas agency.

Many consumers are not aware of the options before them when they encounter bad service at an LPG dealer. If repeated complaints to the dealer do not work, then it is time to get a transfer to another dealer. You can get a transfer to any dealer (even of a different oil company) if your home in the area of his service. This transfer policy was implemented to discourage bad service. If an LPG dealer continues to give bad service, he will soon lose all his customers to other dealers. But since most consumers are not aware that they can get transfers, they continue to suffer and bad dealers continue to prosper.

As an example, in the case of Samrat, you can get a transfer to Raghavendra. The suspension of Samrat is not permanent and if you are worried that you will not get good service when the suspension is revoked, you can apply for a transfer right now and you will get it.

If complaints to the dealer do not work, you can also complain to the concerned oil company. The phone numbers are: Mr. Mohan (BPC) 94481 17453, Mr. Borkar (HPC) 99026 50151 and Mr. Shiva Prakash (IOC) 94482 85525.

C V Nagaraj, member, Mysore Grahakara Parishat

Mysore Genetically Engineered Food seminar report

Over 200 prominent concerned citizens of Mysore overwhelmingly said No to Bt Brinjal, called for a GE-free Karnataka and demanded a nationwide referendum on permitting the introduction of GE crops pending which imposition of a moratorium on GE crops in the country.

Through a declaration called MYSORE DECLARATION ON GENETIC ENGINEERING, FOOD AND FARMING farmers, consumer and environment activists, scientists, academicians, students, national and global experts on genetic engineering termed the claims made by the biotech industry and the safety tests conducted by it as “doubtful in nature” and demanded “a proper, independent and transparent scientific tests for toxicity, allergenicity, environmental impact, pest resistance development and yield levels

The one day State Conference on Genetic Engineering, Food and Farming was held on

Saturday, November 7, 2009 at the Institution of Engineers Hall, Mysore and was co hosted by the Institution of Engineers, Mysore Chapter and the Deccan Development Society of Andhra Pradesh.

Earlier Dr Michel Pimbert, Director, International Institute for Environment and Development, UK – an international expert on food and farming delivered the keynote address and said that the GE foods were neither needed nor wanted. He quoted a number of global experiences on genetically engineered foods which had highlighted their deleterious effects on food and farming systems and pointed to the largest exercise undertaken by 400 world class scientists under the auspices of the World Bank, FAO, and United Nations which resulted in a report called International Assessment of Agricultural Science and Technology for Development [IAASTD] that called for a new paradigm shift in agricultural research and development. In the light of this major international report, Dr Pimbert called for a complete reassessment of GE technology which was neither needed nor wanted.

Many formal GE scientists including Dr Manjunath, formerly Head of Research, Monsanto, Dr Vageesh Babu of the Indian Horticultural Research Institute and Dr Shekhar Shetty, University of Mysore put forward their arguments on Genetic Engineering. Ms Aruna Rodrigues of Sunray Harvesters, MP, Dr Vijayan, Chair, Kerala State Biodiversity Board and Mr P V Satheesh, Director Deccan Development Society, Hyderabad spoke of the harmful effects of genetic engineering on food and farming.

Dr Vombatkere of the Mysore Grahakara Parishad, Mysore and Mr Babu, Chair, Institute of Engineers, Mysore Chapter also participated in the debate beside Mr U N Ravi Kumar and Mr Satheesh.

At the end of the day long deliberations, the House adopted MYSORE DECLARATION ON GENETIC ENGINEERING, FOOD AND FARMING.

MYSORE DECLARATION ON GENETIC ENGINEERING, FARMING AND FOOD

Institute of Engineers, Mysore, November 7, 2009

Having listened to the views of a group of scientists for and against genetic engineering, its regulatory, legal, ethics and social issues, its effects on food and farming and human health, we have come to the following conclusions

1 In view of the overwhelming evidence provided by the global community of farmers, scientists and independent researchers on the ill effects of G E crops and also keeping in mind the doubtful nature of the safety tests conducted by the biotech companies and regulatory bodies, it is advisable to undertake proper, independent and transparent scientific tests for toxicity, allergenicity, environmental impact, pest resistance development and yield levels. Therefore we are in favour of introducing a moratorium on the introduction of GE crops in India

2 The issues of GE crops and foods must be brought to the notice of farmers, consumers and the citizens of this country through a national referendum. The resultant people’s verdict with reference to governance of GE foods must be accepted with full respect.

3 Instead of running behind the mirage of GE crops, the government must encourage sustainable organic agriculture

4 The yield increases claimed by the GE industry are only due to presumed effectiveness in the control of pests. This can be safely achieved by organic products.

5 The government and its approval agencies should adopt stringent and transparent measures without any fear or favour in evaluating/assessing the various claims made for GE products including their safety to the consumer and the environment

6 We do not wish our people to eat GE foods as we do not know how it affects our people’s heath. We do not trust an industry that makes money at the cost of public health and we certainly do not trust a government that ignores its people’s health

7 We must strive to create a movement for public understanding of GE crops and GM foods by mobilizing all possible resources – both material and human

8 We don’t want GE crops which can be apocalyptic to life on earth. Let us say No to Bt Brinjal.

9 Government must by law declare Karnataka GM free

MGP Delegation Meets RTO

A delegation from Mysore Grahakara Parishat recently met the Mysore RTO, Mr. S.H. Kallera. The delegation consisted of Dr.T.N. Manjunath, Maj.Gen. (Rtd.) S.G. Vombatkere, B.V. Shenoy, V. Mahesh, S.Y. Sadashiva Murthy, Narasimhaiah and S.S. Sridhar.

The following problems faced by the public of Mysore were brought to his attention along with MGP's suggestions on how to solve them.

1) The public is continually facing hardship due to defective and tampered autorickshaw meters. The problem is exacerbated by the frequent fare rate changes which are implemented whenever the market prices for petrol change. It makes it difficult for the public to figure out if they are being overcharged.

Suggestion: The problem can be eliminated by installing autorickshaw meters that read the distance covered in kilometers rather than the actual fare in rupees as is being done now. A conversion card issued by the RTO can be used to convert the distance travelled to the fare amount.

There are several advantages to this system. Thousands of autorickshaw meters need not be recalibrated every time there is a rate change. Only the new fare conversion cards have to be issued saving enormous amounts of money. Whenever there is fare rate change, the conversion table can also be published in local dailies so that the public is up-to-date on the fare change.

The correct distances between the various landmarks in Mysore can be made available in the form of a booklet to the public, charging a fee to cover the cost of the booklet. If these distances are known to the public, there will be very little incentive to tamper with the meters. Defective meters can also be easily identified and corrective measures taken.

By changing fare meters to distance meters in autorickshaws, overcharging of the public due to defective or tampered meters will stop.

2) A very large number of autorickshaws with Kerala registration and some with Maharashtra and Bihar registration are plying the roads of Mysore. They do not get registered in Karnataka even after several years. This is causing a major loss of revenue to the state government. Most of these autos do not seem to have insurance and in cases of accidents, they are just abandoned. Citizens involved in acccidents with such autos have can not get insurance cover.

Suggestion: Do not allow Kerala registered auto rickshaws to operate in Mysore beyond the initial grace period.

3) In most places in Mysore, autos are parked randomly. Very often they are parked at intersections, blocking vision.

Suggestion: Proper autorickshaw stands should be constructed in various places in Mysore in consultation with the police.

Dr.T.N. Manjunath, Mysore Grahakara Parishat

MGP CONDUCTS LECTURE-DEMO ON FOOD ADULTERATION

Mysore Grahakara Parishat recently conducted a lecture-demonstration on food adulteration detection at the following places: Mahajana NSS Camp at Megalapura, Coorg Institute of Technology, Ponnampet, and College of Forestry, Ponnampet. C.V. Nagaraj (formerly Senior Chemist, Regional Agmark Laboratory, Bangalore) demonstrated simple tests to detect adulteration in various food items. He also spoke about the harmful effects of various types of adulteration and on the laws that exist in India against food adulteration. Prof. S.K. Ananda Thirtha spoke on various aspects of consumer protection.

Associations interested in arranging such lecture-demos can contact C.V.Nagaraj (Ph: 2521640) or Prof. S.K. Ananda Thirtha (Ph: 2515200).

V.Mahesh, member, Mysore Grahakara Parishat