Hit by frequent outages, farmers protest in Patiala

Patiala, July 5

Farmers associated with the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Krantikari) staged a protest outside the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) head office here over electricity cuts in the state. The farmers said they had been affected by frequent outages and demanded restoration of regular supply.

“The state government should restore eight-hour supply to fields and 24 hours to residential areas. The faulty power contracts signed with companies during the previous SAD-BJP regime should also be scrapped,” said a union leader.

The farmers further asked the government to keep control of power generation and distribution, and fulfil its election promise of providing electricity at a low cost.

“The state government should ensure that meter reading of households is carried out every month,” said a protester.

Baldev Singh Zeera, general secretary of the union, said they held a meeting with officials of the PSPCL. “The officials have accepted our demand for the restoration of eight-hour supply to farmers. The farmers will also be compensated for cuts that have taken place. The protest has now been lifted,” he said. — TNS

NH blocked in Fazilka

Fazilka: BKU activists on Monday blocked the Fazilka-Ferozepur highway near Mahmu Joiya village against the erratic power supply. They alleged some officials misbehaved with farmers. Phuman Singh, Executive Engineer, PSPCL, Jalalabad, said two assistant linemen had been placed under suspension in this regard. OC