GPCC wants 16 hours of power supply for Gujarat farmers

In view of delayed monsoon, the Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) has demanded 16 hours of three-phase power supply to the farmers in the state from the Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

In a statement issued today, the GPCC criticised the decision of the Modi-led BJP government about increasing two hours of three phase power supply (from 8 hours to 10 hours) to the farmers from Tuesday.     

GPCC said, even though the Modi government was compelled to increase two hours of three-phase power supply to the farmers after GPCC's agitation on the issue, the increase is not enough.    

It further said that 57 talukas of the state are declared fall under the 'dark zone', which covers 28 per cent of farm land in the state. Farmers from this dark zone, do not get any power supply on their fields, the statement said.    

"Of course, industries and corporate houses, wishing to get power connections, get it within 24 hours anywhere in the state," GPCC alleged.      "Five lakh applications of farmers from all parts of the state, seeking power connections on their fields for farming purpose, have been pending before the power companies since 1997," it added.     

The GPCC has further criticised that due to the Gujarat government's failure in the completion of canal works in different parts of the state, the farmers are not unable to get water from Sardar Sarovar Dam across Narmada river at Kevadiya, about 100 kms from Vadodara, it alleged.