Mungantiwar urges CM to give farmers 24-hour power supply amid drought-like conditions in Chandrapur

Drought-like conditions have worsened in Chandrapur district, and a long gap in rainfall has put crops under serious threat. MLA Sudhir Mungantiwar has demanded that Chief Minister and Energy Minister Devendra Fadnavis ensure 24-hour uninterrupted and smooth power supply to agricultural pumps.

According to Mungantiwar, farmers have to depend on irrigation to save their crops, which makes uninterrupted power for farm pumps extremely important. He wants farmers' crops to be spared losses from disruptions in supply, their labour not to go to waste, and paddy growers in particular to be able to water their crops on time. Mungantiwar has earlier drawn the government's attention to the matter through two letters and demanded immediate, concrete steps to give relief to farmers facing drought-like conditions and to protect their crops.

He said the gap in rainfall has forced paddy farmers to depend on irrigation to save their crops. If the power supply stops, the crop will suffer and farmers could face financial distress.

It has been reported that rainfall in several parts of the state has not been as expected, posing a serious challenge to farming. Regular irrigation is essential to sustain the growth and yield of crops in paddy-growing areas. However, complaints are coming in that farmers are unable to give their crops the water they need because power to farm pumps is repeatedly cut, is supplied at low voltage, and technical faults are not fixed in time.

Farmers are already bearing the burden of seed, fertiliser, labour and rising costs. In his representation, Mungantiwar said the uncertainty of rain has increased the need for irrigation, and if power supply too remains irregular, crop losses and financial distress could deepen. He said that if water is available but cannot reach the crop for want of electricity, farmers' labour is put at stake. This should not be treated merely as a technical problem of power distribution but as a serious question tied to farmers' livelihoods and their families' future, he said.

Mungantiwar had met Chief Minister Fadnavis, and the Chief Minister had directed the Additional Chief Secretary (Energy) to act on the letters submitted. But nothing has been implemented so far. Mungantiwar has once again underlined that, given farmers' daily difficulties, the issue of power for farm pumps must be resolved on priority under these directions. He said the real benefit of decisions taken at the government level must reach farmers, and smooth power supply to their fields must be assured.

Along with regular 24-hour power for farm pumps, Mungantiwar has demanded an immediate inspection of power lines and other technical arrangements in villages facing frequent outages. In his letter he also stressed that the low-voltage problem be removed so that farm pumps run at proper capacity. Given the irrigation needs of farmers in the paddy belt, he has asked that they be given uninterrupted power on priority. He has also suggested an effective contact system for quick redress of power-related complaints, the availability of the necessary technical staff and repair teams, and care that faults do not persist for long.

Mungantiwar has also demanded that responsibility be fixed on the officials concerned so that farmers do not suffer losses from supply disruptions. He asked that power supply to affected villages be specially reviewed and a report on the measures taken be submitted within a fixed time limit. He also asked the Chief Minister to have areas hit by low rainfall surveyed and a special action plan prepared, in coordination with the departments concerned, on the irrigation and water availability that crops need.

He said the farmer is the backbone of the state's economy. Battling uncertain rain and carrying the burden of debt and costs, the farmer raises a crop with great hope. If the crop is endangered for want of essential power, the matter should be handled with sensitivity, he said. Protecting farmers' labour and giving them the support they need in times of crisis is an important responsibility of the government and the administrative machinery, Mungantiwar said.

Mungantiwar has therefore urged Chief Minister Fadnavis to give the matter immediate attention and direct Mahavitaran and the departments concerned to take clear, time-bound and effective action. He said immediate steps should be taken to ensure smooth power supply to farm pumps and avert potential losses to farmers battling drought-like conditions.