Following a protest by farmers in Jalandhar, the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) has assured an uninterrupted eight-hour power supply to farmers during the ongoing paddy transplantation season. The assurance came after a delegation of farmers, led by the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta Sidhupur) and the Doaba Kisan Sangharsh Committee, met the Superintending Engineer in Jalandhar to raise concerns over inadequate electricity supply.
Farmers demand consistent power supply
Addressing the media, BKU (Ekta Sidhupur) Jalandhar district president Kulwinder Singh and Doaba Kisan Sangharsh Committee state president Balwinder Singh Malli Nangal alleged that the government had failed to fulfill its promise of providing uninterrupted power for paddy cultivation. They stated that growers had honored the government's appeal by transplanting paddy only after the officially prescribed dates. However, instead of receiving a continuous eight-hour power supply, farmers were being supplied electricity for only two to three hours, with the remaining duration consumed by unscheduled power cuts.
Memorandum submitted to PSPCL
The delegation submitted a memorandum demanding an uninterrupted eight-hour electricity supply, an immediate end to unscheduled power cuts, and compensation for time lost due to technical faults. They insisted that whenever power supply is disrupted because of faults, the lost hours should be restored the same day so that farmers receive the full eight hours of electricity.
PSPCL accepts demands
According to the farmer leaders, the Superintending Engineer accepted their demand and issued instructions to provide the promised uninterrupted eight-hour power supply. Kulwinder Singh Mashiana and Balwinder Singh Malli Nangal warned that if farmers continue to face irregular electricity supply in the coming days, they will be compelled to launch an agitation.
BKU (Doaba) ends protest at Behram Toll Plaza
In a related development, the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Doaba) staged a protest at Behram Toll Plaza in Nawanshahr against power cuts. During the protest, officials of PSPCL held discussions with union leaders. “The Executive Engineer (XEN) of the electricity department gave an assurance, accepting the farmers' demands concerning power supply,” said Davinder Singh, a farmer leader. “According to the agreement, the department assured the union that electricity for tubewells would be supplied continuously for eight hours. Following the written commitment from the power department, the BKU (Doaba) called off the protest,” he added.
