The Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) has warned of a 'chakka jam' across Punjab as farmers protest against what they call a severe power crisis affecting agriculture in the state. The farmer union has been holding a statewide dharna against officials of the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) over the ongoing power shortage in the farm sector.
Farmers protest over power shortage disrupting paddy plantation
KMM convener Sarwan Pandher said the acute shortage of electricity has disrupted paddy plantation and left farmers struggling to irrigate their fields. According to The Tribune, the farmers are demanding at least 16 hours of uninterrupted power supply for agriculture and 24-hour supply for domestic consumers.
The situation escalated after farmers heading to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's Lok Milni programme in Moga were detained by the police. Pandher alleged that despite prior intimation to the authorities about the farmers delegation's visit, they were detained.
Warning of chakka jam if government suppresses farmers' voice
Pandher warned that if the government continued to suppress farmers' voice, the unions would hold a 'chakka jam'. He said farmer delegations would continue to attend the Chief Minister's programmes to highlight their demands.
According to PTC News, the farmers also warned of intensifying protests if their demands are not met. The KMM has been staging protests outside power corporation offices across the state.
"If the government continued to suppress farmers' voice, the unions would hold a 'chakka jam'." — Sarwan Pandher, KMM convener, as reported by The Tribune
Our Take: Power crisis in Punjab needs urgent government attention
The Kisan Mazdoor Morcha's warning of a chakka jam highlights a serious issue that has been brewing in Punjab's farm sector. When farmers cannot get enough electricity to irrigate their fields during the critical paddy planting season, it directly threatens their livelihood and the state's agricultural output.
In our view, the detention of farmers who were simply trying to meet the Chief Minister is a worrying sign. Instead of suppressing voices, the government should engage with farmer unions to find a practical solution to the power shortage. A chakka jam would disrupt daily life across Punjab, but it is a sign of how desperate farmers have become. The state government must act quickly to restore reliable power supply to farms before the situation escalates further.