ELECTRICITY INFRASTRUCTURE YET TO REACH PRIVATE BOREWELLS: BHAI DINESH

ELECTRICITY INFRASTRUCTURE YET TO REACH PRIVATE BOREWELLS: BHAI DINESH

8-JULY-ENG 1

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA--------------------------Electricity infrastructure has yet to reach private borewells belonging to farmers in over 100 villages of the Jagdishpur Assembly constituency; a sit-in protest will be staged in the Superintending Engineer's chamber if the work is not completed by July 15.

Deep resentment has been expressed regarding the failure to supply wires, poles, and transformers to farmers' private borewells across more than 100 villages in the Jagdishpur Assembly constituency. Issues cited include the failure to replace faulty transformers on time, the failure to activate transformers that have already been installed, and the lack of adequate electricity supply for irrigation.

The state government had launched a scheme to extend electricity to private borewells with the aim of providing better irrigation facilities to farmers; however, in Bhojpur district, the scheme remains incomplete even after more than five years. Consequently, thousands of farmers are facing immense difficulties during the farming and irrigation seasons. The lack of timely electricity is driving up costs and disrupting agricultural operations.

In hundreds of villages—including Asudhan, Harigaon, Barnav, Bankat, Kaura, Bimva, Harnahi, Bhatouli, Devtola, Pilapur, Charwani, Charwahi, Hetampur, Gangajal Dehri, Katariya, Khanani, Masudhi, Jagdishpur Nagar Panchayat, Pipra, Kakila, Dhanpura, Angara, Lohai Tola, AR, Shobhnath ke Bathan, and Lahthan—wires, poles, and transformers have still not reached farmers' private borewells. In many locations, transformers have been installed but not activated, while numerous faulty transformers have remained unreplaced for months.

Electricity company officials are practicing discrimination in the execution of work. While the work has been completed in some areas, a large number of villages have yet to receive the benefits of these schemes. This constitutes an injustice to the farmers and raises serious questions about the administration's way of functioning. A demand was made to the Superintending Engineer of the Electricity Board, Ara, to expedite the completion of all pending works in the Jagdishpur Assembly constituency on a priority basis; to immediately replace all defective transformers and restore the operation of non-functional ones; and to ensure an adequate and uninterrupted power supply to farmers so that the irrigation of Kharif crops is not disrupted.

A warning was issued stating that if there is no tangible progress on the pending works and the farmers' grievances are not resolved by July 15, a protest will be staged: farmers will march to the office of the Superintending Engineer (Electricity Board, Ara) and stage a peaceful sit-in inside his chamber, thereby intensifying the fight for farmers' rights. The Electricity Department and the district administration will be held solely responsible for the consequences.

There will be no compromise regarding the interests of farmers, and the struggle will continue unabated until electricity facilities reach the private borewells of every eligible farmer.