Lack of co-ordination in Guj govt depts affecting crops: BKS

Blaming "lack of coordination" in Gujarat government's departments for affecting production of crops, the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh on Monday claimed that over 3.75 lakh applications of farmers seeking electricity connections have been awaiting clearance.

Demanding fix timing for electricity supply to farmers, BKS Gujarat president Magan Patel said since power is supplied on the basis of rotation, it is affecting production of crops.

Farmers in Gujarat currently receive power in morning for one week, in afternoon the second week and at night in the subsequent week, he said. "Presently, we get electricity for eight hours in the morning every third week as per the rotation policy of the state government," Patel said.

"Therefore, we have demanded that government provide us electricity only in morning time so that the crops are properly irrigated. Electricity in night is of no use," he said, adding electricity is used to irrigate fields using water pumps.

Patel said change in timing of water supply is also affecting crop production as it shows "lack of coordination within the government departments". He claimed as many as 57 talukas in Gujarat fall under "dark zone" where farmers do not get electricity at all. "Besides those in the dark zone, over nearly 3.75 lakh applications of farmers from 175 talukas for electricity connections are pending with the state government since long."

Expressing concern over a trend of agricultural land being sold by farmers to industrialists, Patel said, "Now with the land prices soaring beyond expectation, the farmers are lured towards selling their land because agriculture has become a loss-making proposition due to the policies of the state government," Patel said.