Haveri: Haveri District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum (HDCDRF) has slapped a penalty of Rs 1.54 lakh on Hescom for damages caused to sugarcane crop due to fire triggered by an electricity wire passing through the field.
Farmer Nagaraj Daivajna of Vardi village in Hanagal taluk had filed a suit on November 21, 2019, at Aduru police station as he lost 180 tonnes of sugarcane in two acres of land. He appealed to HDCDRF on 1 July, 2020, against the section officer of Adur Hescom, AEE Hanagal sub-division, EE Haveri division, and MD Hescom Hubballi claiming his losses. Finally, HDCDRF awarded compensation of Rs 1.58 lakh including court expenses.
An 11KV wire fallen on a sugarcane field and a sudden surge of electricity caused short circuit triggering a fire that entirely gutted the crop. Almost a year after the incident, the HDCDRF, on 12 November, 2020, ordered Hescom to pay Daivajna Rs 1.54 lakh and Rs 4,000 expenses for the destruction.
According to sources, electricity wires are passing and the electricity poles are fixed in the farmer’s land.
“I had been appealeing to Hescom’s Adur section office to repair the electricity wire passing through my land but the authorities had not taken any action. Finally, I lost my crop. Now, the HDCDRF has ordered Hescom to pay my loss. I hope Hescom authorities will follow this order,” said Nagaraj Daivajna.
S Veeranna, executive engineer, Hescom, said he was not aware of the HDCDRF’s award. “I will check and react,” he said.