Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Monday visited Mehna village in the Lambi Assembly segment of Muktsar district to assess the impact of inadequate power supply for agricultural tubewells. He criticised the state government for the ongoing power crisis, which has left farmers struggling to irrigate their fields during the critical paddy season.
Sukhbir blames AAP for worsening power situation
Sukhbir said farmers were facing severe hardship because of prolonged power cuts. He claimed the previous SAD government had made Punjab a power-surplus state 15 years ago and accused the present government of failing to address farmers’ concerns. “There is a need to install new thermal, biomass and solar power plants to generate more electricity and meet the demand. If the AAP remains in power, the situation will only worsen,” he said.
Farmers continue protests across Punjab
Meanwhile, farmers continued their protests against inadequate electricity supply for operating tubewells during the paddy season. Protesting farmers in Muktsar, Barnala and several other parts of the state demanded uninterrupted eight-hour free power supply for irrigation. The protests have gained momentum as the paddy transplantation season peaks, requiring consistent power for water pumps.
The power crisis has been a contentious issue in Punjab, with the opposition accusing the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government of mismanagement. Sukhbir’s visit to Mehna village is part of SAD’s strategy to highlight farmer distress ahead of the upcoming elections. He reiterated that the SAD government had ensured 24-hour power supply to farmers and urged the current administration to take immediate corrective measures.
