The Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM-Punjab) has launched a statewide dharana (sit-in) protest against officials of the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) over the ongoing power crisis in the farm sector. The protest, which began on June 30, 2026, has disrupted paddy plantation and left farmers struggling to irrigate their fields due to acute electricity shortages.
KMM demands uninterrupted power supply
KMM convener Sarwan Singh Pandher stated that the power supply to agricultural feeders has been reduced to just four hours, forcing farmers to spend their savings or borrow money to run diesel-powered motors. He warned that if the government continued to suppress farmers' voices, the unions would hold a chakka jam (road blockade).
Pandher alleged that despite raising the issue with the Power Minister and the Chairman-cum-Managing Director of PSPCL, no action has been taken. Farmers have been assured of uninterrupted electricity, but in reality many areas were receiving only two-and-a-half to four hours of supply daily, severely affecting irrigation during the paddy season.
Tension escalates after detention of farmers
Tension escalated after farmers heading to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's Lok Milni programme in Moga were detained by the police. Pandher alleged that despite prior intimation to the authorities about the farmers' delegation visit, they were arrested, calling the action “dictatorship instead of democracy”. He said that farmer delegations would continue to attend the Chief Minister's Lok Milni programmes and ask him questions about the current power crisis and policy paralysis in the state.
Specific demands of KMM
The KMM has put forward a list of demands, including at least 16 hours of uninterrupted power supply for agricultural motors and 24-hour supply for domestic consumers. The outfit also seeks replacement of faulty transformers within 24 hours, with transportation arranged by the power utility. Furthermore, it demands that the installation of smart meters without consumers' consent be stopped, penalties imposed after the removal of old meters be withdrawn, and old meters be reinstalled.
Pandher emphasized that the government's failure to address the power crisis is severely impacting farmers' livelihoods. He noted that the paddy plantation season is critical, and the lack of electricity is forcing farmers to resort to expensive diesel-powered irrigation, depleting their savings and pushing them into debt.
