Mansa farmers protest irregular power supply

Mansa, March 20

BKU (Dakonda) members gheraoed the office of XEN, Powercom, and staged a protest in Mansa district alleging the farmers were not getting regular power supply, thereby hampering the irrigation of wheat crop.

Apart from wheat, farmers in the region also grow vegetables and fruits, but erratic power supply makes their job difficult, union leaders say.

Makhan Singh Bhaini Bagha, block secretary of the union, said, “We have been facing this problem for long. Despite approaching Powercom authorities on numerous occasions, our requests for regular power supply have fallen on deaf ears.”

Singh added, “Many farmers have taken loans, so any dip in yield will make things difficult for them. Many a time such situations force marginal farmers to end their lives by suicide. The government should ensure adequate power supply to farmers during the day.” The Powercom XEN assured farm union members of an early solution to their problem after which the union decided to stall the gherao till March 24. — TNS