Angry farmers on Monday gheraoed the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) office in Jalandhar, protesting frequent power cuts during the crucial paddy transplantation season. Raising slogans against the Punjab government and the power utility, members of the Doaba Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee accused the authorities of failing to provide uninterrupted electricity despite repeated assurances.
The farmers alleged that irregular electricity supply has severely affected irrigation, making it difficult to transplant paddy on time. They said the state government had promised uninterrupted power to the agriculture sector, but prolonged outages have disrupted farming activities across several villages.
Farmers demand uninterrupted power
Protesters claimed that agriculture tubewells are not receiving the required supply, forcing cultivators to wait for electricity at odd hours. They warned that delayed irrigation could affect paddy cultivation and increase production costs.
Farmer leaders said that shortly after they began the protest outside the PSPCL office, power supply in the area was restored. However, they termed it a temporary measure and demanded a permanent solution to the electricity crisis. According to the protesters, the government must ensure regular and uninterrupted power during the paddy season instead of resorting to ad hoc arrangements.
Warning of larger statewide agitation
The protesting farmers cautioned that if the power situation does not improve immediately, they will intensify their agitation across Punjab. They said demonstrations would be expanded to other districts, and larger protests would be organised if uninterrupted electricity is not restored to agricultural feeders.
Farmer representatives maintained that paddy transplantation is at a critical stage and any delay in irrigation could adversely impact crop yields. They urged the government to address the issue on priority rather than waiting for protests to escalate.
Punjab faces rising power demand
The protest comes at a time when Punjab is witnessing a sharp rise in electricity demand due to the ongoing paddy season. Reports indicate that reduced power generation, the shutdown of several thermal power units and increased dependence on costly electricity purchases have put additional pressure on the state’s power supply system.
PSPCL continues to publish scheduled maintenance shutdowns and power supply information through its official portal, but farmers argue that unscheduled outages are causing significant disruption to agricultural operations.
Farmers seek immediate government intervention
The agitating farmers have urged the Punjab government and PSPCL officials to ensure uninterrupted electricity during the peak paddy transplantation period. They warned that unless concrete steps are taken to improve power availability, the present protest in Jalandhar would only be the beginning of a wider movement across the state.
With paddy cultivation entering its most crucial phase, farmer organisations say reliable electricity is essential to safeguard crops and prevent financial losses for cultivators.