Farmers Movement Archive

Protest against six-hour supply

Farmers under the banner of BKU’s Ekta Ugrahan and Dakonda factions gheraoed a power station here today alleging curtailed electricity supply to tubewells, thereby affecting paddy sowing in the district.Left with no alternative, some farmers were using electricity generators to draw water, but given the skyrocketing diesel prices, it had added to their input cost, the protesters claimed.In Mansa district, the farmers claimed they were receiving only five to six hours of power supply against the promised eight-hour uninterrupted supply. BKU Ugrahan leader Jagshir Singh Jhumba said: “Farmers are facing a lot difficulty in sowing paddy these days due to inadequate power supply by the PSPCL to tubewells. As a result, farmers are being forced to use generators to draw water, but it consumes 5 litre diesel per hour. With fuel rates skyrocketing, it has put an additional burden on farmers, many of whom cannot afford it.”Jhumba added: “We gheraoed the power grid near Multania road today but if the problem persists, we will stage protests outside other power grids in the district as well. The government had promised eight-hour uninterrupted supply during the paddy season. But a majority of farmers has been receiving only five to six-hour supply, making it difficult for them to carry out sowing.”BKU Dakonda leader Buta Singh said: “A small farmer is already burdened under increased input cost of sowing. Now, erratic supply has left them high and dry. The state government’s tall claims of having surplus power have fallen flat. It will have to make amends or it will bear the consequences in the upcoming elections.”Meanwhile, farm organisations in Mansa have started mobilising support for a massive protest on June 26. — TNS

The Tribune

2021-06-25

Bathinda