Farmers express concern over short-circuits turn that damage crops in Nirmal

Farmers in Nirmal and Adilabad districts are facing crop losses allegedly due to electric short-circuits affecting maize and jowar fields. While farmers seek compensation and insurance, power officials deny negligence, citing alternative causes and ongoing safety measures.

Nirmal/Adilabad: Of late, farmers are worried over a new menace crop damage reportedly caused by short-circuits in both Nirmal and Adilabad districts.

Farmers, who were already reeling under crisis due to unsupportive price, delay in supply of fertilizers and Rythu Bharosa benefits, alleged that standing maize, jowar and oil palm crops were burnt due to short-circuits, resulting in huge losses for growers. They accused Northern Power Distribution Company Limited (NPDCL) officials of showing negligence resulting in the mishaps.

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On April 28, five farmers suffered 12-crop damage caused by electric short-circuits in Pembi village, triggering a concern among farmers. Khanapur BRS leader Bhukya Johnson Naik was moved by the plight of the growers. He immediately posted a message on micro-blogging site, X, prompting Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy to initiate a probe into the incident and to extend support to victims.

Agriculture officials, who inspected damaged crops, said that 77 farmers suffered crop damage to the extent of at least 110 acres in recent instances. Fire officials attributed the crop damage to not only electric short-circuit, but also burning of agriculture waste. They disclosed that in some incidents careless smoking and intentionally setting crops on fire due to rivalries.

Farmer organizations expressed concern over this unprecedented menace that resulted in financial loss to growers of maize and jowar. They requested the government to extend insurance cover to the crops prone to be damaged by short-circuits. They urged officials to extend compensation for crop damage by carrying out surveys and studying causes of mishaps.

However, NPDCL officials denied the allegations of farmers. They reasoned that the power tripping was not recorded in the lines that were alleged to have snapped and caused the crop damage. They suspected that the farmers might be removing support wires of the power lines resulting in the mishaps. They stated that efforts were on to prevent shatter of high-tension electric lines passing through fields.

Eom with recent incidents

On Friday, maize crop grown in 11.3 acres belonging to two farmers was damaged by short-circuit at Pochampalli village

Standing jowar crop in 2 acres was burnt when wires of an 11 KV line snapped at Andakur village.

Standing maize crop raised in 43 acres of farms belonging to 21 farmers was burnt due to suspected short-circuits at Pardi (K), Dharkubheer and Nigwa villages on Thursday. Crop damage in the two accidents was computed to be Rs 26 lakh.

Maize crop to the extent of 12 acres was damaged by alleged short-circuit at Tharoda village on the same day. The value of crop loss in the two incidents was assessed to be Rs 33 lakh.

Jowar crop in 2 acres, 20 sprinklers, a solar lighting system were gutted when wires of a 11 KV power line snapped at Kouta (B) village in Adilabad district on Friday

Standing maize crop belonging to a farmer was reduced to ashes at Bhutayi (B) village on Friday. The cost of the crop damage in the two instances was estimated to be Rs. 2.50 lakh