Farmers, owing allegiance to different unions, held a dharna in front of the office of the sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) here on Monday. Farmers, under the banner of the 'Struggling farmers-labourers co-ordination committee, Punjab' also submitted a memorandum to the chief minister Parkash Singh Badal through the SDM.
Jamhoori Kisan Sabha (JKS) state secretary, Malkit Singh Wazidke said, "Electricity surplus claims of the government are a sham. We are not getting power supply even for five hours a day.
We have already spent around `10,000 per acre on cultivation of crops this season. If we do not get continued power supply, our crops would get destroyed."
President of the local unit of JKS Nihal Singh, said, "The government had waived charges for installation of transformers and laying of lines for farmers with land holdings up to 2.5 acres.
However, now we are forced to pay up to `1.25 lakh for transformers. Besides that, we are made to pay bribe at every step while dealing with the power supply company."
Farmer leaders demanded loan waiver for marginal farmers and allotment of tubewell connections on priority. They also demanded increase in load under the VDS at `1,200 per horsepower.
{{/usCountry}}Farmer leaders demanded loan waiver for marginal farmers and allotment of tubewell connections on priority. They also demanded increase in load under the VDS at `1,200 per horsepower.
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