Khammam: Farmers lay siege to substation at Kandukur over power cuts

Farmers in Khammam district staged a protest at Kandukur, laying siege to a local substation against frequent power cuts. They accused the Congress government of failing to deliver on its promise of 24-hour free electricity, with former MLA Sandra Venkata Veeraiah joining the agitation and warning of intensified protests if the issue remains unresolved.

Khammam: Farmers at Kandukur of Vemsoor mandal in the district took out a rally on Saturday and laid siege to the local electrical substation in protest against power outages.

A large number of farmers from Kandukur, Duddupudi, Bharanipadu and Lachannagudem took part in the protest expressing anger at the Congress government, which had promised 24-hour free electricity but failed to ensure even a seven-hour uninterrupted supply. Former Sathupalli MLA Sandra Venkata Veeraiah extended his solidarity with the protesting farmers.

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Speaking on the occasion, he recalled that former Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao had taken up the challenge posed by the then-Chief Minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh, who had remarked that if Telangana was formed, people would only use power lines to dry clothes and ensured 24-hour free electricity for farmers in the State.

While questioning the government why power cuts were being imposed again in the State, Veeraiah accused the Revanth Reddy government of failing to plan adequately for the farmers’ electricity needs. It was the government’s duty to provide quality, uninterrupted power to farmers, even if it meant purchasing electricity from other States to safeguard crops, he said.

He further stated that the government was causing difficulties for farmers in fertiliser supply as well. Creating hurdles for farmers through an app-based fertiliser distribution system was inappropriate as many farmers do not own smartphones and fertilisers should be supplied using the earlier coupon system by ensuring availability of adequate stocks, he demanded.

Veeraiah checked the supply logbook at the substation to verify actual duration of power supply and the frequency of interruptions experienced by farmers. If the electricity issue was not resolved immediately the protests by the farmers would be intensified, he warned.