Vadodara: In view of the delayed monsoon, the Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee on Tuesday demanded Chief Minister Narendra Modi to ensure 16 hours of three-phase power
supply to farmers in the state.
In a statement issued o Tuesday, GPCC criticized the decision of the Modi-led BJP government about increasing the three-phase power supply by two hours (from 8 hours to 10 hours) to farmers from Tuesday.
GPCC said, even though the Modi government was compelled to increase power supply to farmers following the party`s agitation on the issue, the increase is not sufficient.
It further said that 57 talukas of the state fall under the `dark zone`, which covers 28 per cent of farm land in the state. Farmers in this dark zone do not get any power supply in 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 alleged that due to the Gujarat government`s failure to complete canal works in different parts of the state, the farmers are unable to get water from Sardar Sarovar Dam across Narmada river at Kevadiya, about 100 kms from Vadodara.
PTI
