Saurashtra farmers agitate for power. Farmers of Porbandar, Junagadh, Rajkot, Surendranagar and Bhavnagar are on the warpath against Paschim Gujarat Vij Company Ltd (PGVCL). Farmers of Porbandar district staged a dharna outside PGVCL office in the city on Wednesday. Water has become vital to save crops across Saurashtra and for those 12 hours of electricity a day is a must.
But, PGVCL has not been providing electricity as promised to farmers in the region. Farmers are alleging that despite availability of water, as power is not supplied their crops are getting ruined. They have threatened to intensify their stir if 12-hour electricity supply is not restored immediately. Similarly, farmers of Keshod, Lodhika, Rajula, Khambhalia and Tankara too presented a memorandum to authorities to regularize power supply.
Bharatiya Kishan Sangh officials also went to PGVCL office in Junagadh and demanded 12-hour power supply. Says Sangh president in Junagadh Vithal Dhudhatra, "PGVCL has been irregular in supplying power. Tripping has become a regular phenomenon and has resulted in wastage of water. Crops are not getting required amount of water because of power shortage."
Citing reasons for tripping, a PGVCL official said: "Electricity theft is rampant and is causing this problem. But, we are working to solve the problem.
But, on 12-hour supply, we have orders from Gandhinagar. What can we do?" "If this is government policy, we have no option but to start an agitation. We are facing a situation where our crops are getting ruined and we can't afford that," said Dhudhatra.
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