Ryots reel under power crisis

• 16 hours power cut in villages
• Farmers stay all night in fields waiting for power supply
• Allege five-hour power supply erratic
• More power cuts in towns and cities soon

Warangal: Various districts in Telangana State are reeling under severe power crisis due to the unscheduled power cuts imposed by the Northern Power Distribution Company Limited (NPDCL) in spite of the instructions from the higher officials to supply power for seven hours in two installments. Adilabad, Karimnagar, Khammam, Nizamabad and Warangal districts fall under the limits of NPDCL.

The six-hour power cut in the district headquarters, eight hours power cut in mandal headquarters and 16 hours power cut in villages was being implemented. Almost all the villages remain in total darkness due to the long power outage timings.

The farmers are helplessly watching the withering crops in the absence of rain and no electricity supply to irrigate the fields through pump sets.

Venkat Reddy, a farmer from Hasanparti came down heavily on the government for not keeping the assurance to supply power for seven hours for agriculture. He said that no one knew when there would be power supply. He expressed anguish over the withering crops.

Another farmer from the village said that even the five hours power supply was erratic. The farmers were almost living in the fields waiting for the power supply not knowing when it would be supplied, he added. The farmers are leaving the withering crop to the animals as fodder.

Another farmer Kishen was almost in tears stating that many farmers would be compelled to commit suicide in near future.

Due to the power cut, many small and marginal industries are closed and workers were rendered jobless, union leaders lamented. They appealed to the government to purchase power from neighbouring states to solve the power crisis.

Mohan Rao, Warangal SE, said that they were compelled to impose power cuts as there was huge gap between the power generation and demand. However, electricity was being supplied for agriculture purpose for 3 to 5 hours. He said that the power cut duration in the towns and cities would be increased to supply power for agriculture. He said that there were 2.70 lakh pump sets in Warangal district alone.

The SE appealed to the people to conserve power and cooperate with the department.

The State Government has been maintaining stony silence over the power crisis. It has even trying to throw the blame on the previous governments. The farmers appeal to the government to come to their rescue in the times of crisis.

Farmers lay siege to power station

• Transco officials confined in office

Nizamabad: Farmers laid siege to the power sub-station in Faridpet in Machareddy mandal in the district on Monday demanding seven-hour power supply for agriculture.

The siege continued for three hours with the police attempt to pacify the farmers. The police tried to disperse the farmers which led to argument between the police and farmers. Transco AE Panduranga Rao and three other staff members were confined in the sub-station. When police tried to intervene and release the confined officials, a farmer attempted to commit suicide by dousing himself with kerosene. The police stopped him from setting himself afire. The farmers stated that the crops were withering due to no supply of power and the officials would be released if they restore power supply. The farmers in Annaram village also laid siege to the power sub-station and confined the Transco staff in the office. They warned that they would intensify agitation if the power supply was not regularized.