Chandigarh, Aug 21 — A well-spread monsoon across Punjab has eased power demand during the peak paddy season, helping the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) save crores of rupees in free power subsidies and reduce dependence on purchased electricity. Experts say the favorable rainfall pattern has also positioned the state for a record paddy harvest.
Officials said PSPCL supplied around 235,300 lakh units (LU) of power over the last two-and-a-half months, nearly 5 percent lower than the 242,460 LU supplied in the corresponding period last year. Power purchase from all sources also dipped, at 181,300 LU compared to 184,400 LU last season.
Daily average supply this year was 3,052 LU in June, 3,095 LU in July, and 2,993 LU up to August 16. In contrast, figures last year were 2,918 LU, 3,352 LU, and 3,190 LU, respectively. “It is after years that we are seeing a decline in power supply during the paddy season, which usually shows rising demand every year,” a senior official said.
The reduction is attributed to the timely arrival of pre-monsoon showers and consistent rainfall that lessened farmers’ reliance on tubewells. Punjab has over 13 lakh tubewells, each drawing about 30.24 lakh liters of water weekly with an average of eight hours of electricity supply. Experts noted that regular rains this season not only lowered the stress on groundwater but also cut the government’s subsidy burden.
Agriculture experts estimate Punjab’s paddy yield could reach 185 lakh tonnes this kharif season, slightly higher than last year’s 182 lakh tonnes. The crop, cultivated across 31 lakh hectares, relies heavily on irrigation, with nearly 73 percent of fields watered by tubewells.
Still, concerns persist. More than 118 blocks in Punjab are already categorized as “dark zones,” where groundwater has declined drastically due to extensive paddy cultivation. Experts continue to warn that early transplantation of the water-guzzling crop accelerates depletion.
Punjab advanced paddy transplantation this year to June 1, compared to June 11 last year. Since 2014, the state had mandated June 15 as the starting date to align crop irrigation with the monsoon and reduce groundwater stress. Agriculture scientists have long advocated pushing the date further to June 20 or beyond to prevent overexploitation.
“The rains have helped this season, but if the trend of early transplantation continues, Punjab risks worsening its groundwater crisis,” experts said, pointing to fears of rapid desertification if extraction remains unchecked.
Despite the warnings, the current season is shaping up to be one of Punjab’s most successful in recent years, combining a projected bumper harvest with financial savings for the power sector and temporary relief for the state’s overburdened aquifers.
