Ryots protest power cuts

Seek continuous supply for seven hours to farm sector until standing crop is harvested

Farmers in the district on Wednesday staged protests against the frequent power cuts and also demanded the continuous supply for seven hours to farm sector until the standing crops were harvested.

They surrounded the electricity sub-stations in Kamareddy mandal, while in Gopanpally of Nizamabad mandal and Timmapur of Morthad mandal they staged dharna before the sub-stations.

Farmers of Lingampally, Adlur and Ramareddy came on to the streets protesting against the interruption in the supply, while their counterparts in Ishanpally of Machareddy mandal staged rasta roko demanding uninterrupted supply.

They expressed anguish at the situation saying that they stand to lose heavily as paddy was withering at the crucial stage, while other crops like maize, soyabean and vegetables fields have already gone dry. If the seven hour continuous supply was ensured now most of the paddy crop could be saved, said the agitating farmers.

Bandh in Bheemgal

A bandh was observed by all sections of people in Bheemgal on Wednesday demanding continuous supply of power and also take steps to reopen the RTC bus depot immediately.

The residents under the aegis of the JAC called for the bandh alleging indifference of authorities in solving their long pending problems.

“We are seeking uninterrupted power supply for five hours to the farm sector at least for the next 15 days as the paddy crop reached a crucial stage”, said the JAC leaders. The bandh went off peacefully and people cooperated in maintaining law and order, said Mohammed Waheeduddin, Circle Inspector of Police.

Road blockade in Adilabad

Adilabad Special Correspondent adds: Angry farmers on Wednesday blocked flow of traffic on the Indervelli-Utnoor road protesting the shortage of power to farming sector.

About 100 farmers gathered on the road at Indervelli for about two hours raising slogans against the State government.

Compensation sought

The farmers also demanded release of compensation for crops lost year due to excessive rainfall.

The farmers later submitted a memorandum of demands to Indervelli Tahsildar Chitru.