Electricity transformer, motor thefts add to farmers' woes amid canal closure
"We are unable to irrigate our fields," say farmers
Farmers in Muktsar district are facing mounting difficulties as electricity transformer and motor thieves continue to strike across villages, disrupting irrigation at a crucial stage of the wheat crop.
Several power transformers have been stolen over the past few days, coinciding with the closure of canals due to relining work on the Ferozepur Feeder canal. Notably, the Sirhind Feeder canal, which supplies water to most of the distributaries and minors in this district, originates from Ferozepur Feeder canal.
With the canal water supply suspended, farmers are heavily dependent on electric tubewells for timely irrigation.
Farmers from Thandewala, Sangrana, Badian, Seerwali, Sakkanwali, Samagh, Husnar and Doda villages said that not only transformers, but also water-lifting motors had been stolen.
“Hardly a day passes without reports of thefts of electricity transformers and water-lifting motors. We are unable to irrigate our fields. The police must increase patrolling and arrest the thieves,” said Bhana Brar, a farmer from Sakkanwali village.
Harinder Singh Thandewala, an activist of Punjab Bachao Morcha, said four electricity transformers were stolen from his village on Wednesday night.
Some residents of Doda village claimed that about a dozen transformers had been stolen there in the past week. “We need to register an FIR to apply for a new transformer. Besides, we have to complete other formalities. It takes time, but the wheat crop needs water immediately and the canals are also closed,” said Ranjit Singh of Doda village.
He added that since electricity supply to fields is currently being provided during the daytime, thefts have increased during the night hours.
Muktsar SSP Abhimanyu Rana said, “We have recently busted two modules involved in such thefts and arrested a scrap dealer as well who was buying stolen items. A number of cases have been solved, and the remaining ones will also be solved on priority.”
Meanwhile, residents of Muktsar town complained of potable water supply, claiming that underground water is unfit for human consumption in several parts of the town. “Canal closures should be scheduled only in March or April. In the current situation, people are being forced to buy water. Similarly, farmers are worried about the growing wheat crop,” said Jagjit Singh Honey Fattanwala, a SAD leader.
The water resources department officials said the canal closure would still last for over a week.
