Patiala, June 30: An acute shortage of electricity has severely impacted agricultural operations across Punjab, prompting widespread sit-in demonstrations by the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) outside regional power utility offices. The farmer body has expressed deep concern that erratic electricity distribution during the peak of the paddy transplantation season is threatening crop cycles and placing immense strain on rural communities.
According to farm representatives, rural feeders are operating under major constraints, with daily power availability falling significantly short of expectations. The current generation gaps have caused major interruptions in field watering schedules. The situation has forced many cultivators to rely on expensive alternative methods, such as utilizing personal savings or taking loans to purchase fuel for running diesel-powered irrigation pumps.
The leadership of the KMM stated that direct administrative representations have failed to resolve the ongoing distribution issues. KMM convener Sarwan Pandher asserted that immediate adjustments to the current electricity supply schedules are critical. “The power supply to agriculture has been reduced to just four hours, forcing farmers to spend their savings or borrow money to run diesel-powered motors,” Pandher declared. “Despite raising the issue with the Power Minister and the Chairman-cum-Managing Director of PSPCL, no action has been taken.”
To prevent further agrarian distress, the organization has put forward a structured memorandum outlining minimum infrastructure requirements. The union is seeking at least 16 hours of uninterrupted power supply designated for the agricultural sector alongside a guaranteed 24-hour supply for domestic consumers. Furthermore, the KMM maintained that the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) must ensure the replacement of all faulty transformers within a strict 24-hour window.
