As many as 16 farmer unions have rejected the electricity supply schedule issued by the Punjab government for the forthcoming paddy sowing season, stating that they will begin transplanting the crop from 10 June.
Farmers have also threatened to hold protests to press the government to meet power demand from 10 June itself. The state government has agreed to allow paddy sowing to begin on 18 June in a staggered manner in order to reduce the demand for energy and conserve underground water.
According to a government announcement, paddy transplantation will begin on June 18 in Sangrur, Barnala, Malerkotla, Ludhiana, Patiala, and Fatehgarh Sahib districts, while sowing will begin on June 22 in Bathinda, Mansa, Moga, Faridkot, Ferozepur, and Fazilka.
Paddy sowing will begin in Mohali, SBS Nagar, Kapurthala, and Muktsar on June 24. It will begin on June 26 in the districts of Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Hoshiarpur, Amritsar, and Tarn Taran. On May 20, the government also approved paddy sowing using the direct seeding rice technique.
The notification stated that electricity delivery to farmers for irrigation will begin on the dates set for paddy sowing to begin. Farmers stated they fully reject the new paddy sowing and energy supply schedules announced by the state government following their meeting with the PSPCL chairman.
Buta Singh Burjgill, head of the Bharti Kisan Union (Dakaunda), called the decision "dictatorial" and claimed it was unacceptable. "Before announcing the sowing and electrical supply schedules, the government did not consult with farmers," he stated.
Farmers will begin sowing paddy on June 10, according to Burjgill. He went on to say that they would stage an agitation to pressure the state administration to guarantee electricity supply starting June 10. The farmers also sought 12 hours of power from the PSPCL, rather than the allotted eight hours.
Harmeet Singh Kadian, another farmer leader, stated that they will declare their next plan of action at their next meeting on May 20.
