After urea shortage, inadequate power supply sparks farmer protests in Telangana

Farmers across Telangana districts are staging protests at substations and blocking roads, alleging erratic power supply and unauthorised cuts that disrupt irrigation. They demand 18 hours of quality electricity, accusing the government of failing to deliver promised 24-hour supply amid deficient rainfall.

Hyderabad: After protesting against delays in paddy procurement last season and inadequate urea supply this season, farmers are now taking to the streets over poor power supply. All this amid deficit rainfall.

Farmers in Suddala village of Yadadri Bhuvanagiri district staged a protest at the local substation, alleging inadequate power supply and frequent outages. They raised slogans against the State government and demanded 18 hours of quality electricity for agriculture.

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The protesters alleged that unauthorized power cuts were disrupting irrigation through borewells. They said farmers were already struggling due to deficit rainfall and the erratic power supply was making cultivation even more difficult.

“The Congress leaders’ claim of providing 24-hour power supply is false. We want 18 hours of quality power supply,” the farmers said. They also alleged that officials had failed to resolve the problem despite repeated complaints.

On Wednesday, farmers from Indloor village staged a protest in front of a substation on the Tipparthi-Nakrekal road. They also held a rasta roko, accusing electricity department officials of ignoring their grievances.

Last week, farmers in Jagtial district staged a rasta roko on the Korutla-Ailapur road, demanding quality power supply. They alleged that they were receiving only nine to 10 hours of electricity despite the government’s claim of providing 24-hour supply. They said the government should not worsen the difficulties caused by deficit rainfall through inadequate power supply.

Similar protests were held in Mylaram in Warangal district last week. Farmers there demanded quality power supply and the release of irrigation water through the Sri Ram Sagar Project (SRSP).