Rising Electricity Demand Triggers Farmer Agitation and Industrial Concerns in Punjab

Punjab is witnessing growing unrest as soaring temperatures and an acute power shortage have disrupted agricultural activities, leaving paddy fields without adequate irrigation. Farmers, frustrated over not receiving the promised eight-hour electricity supply for agriculture, staged protests across the state by surrounding power grids and blocking major roads. The state's electricity demand has climbed to 16,800 MW, putting significant pressure on the power distribution system. Although Punjab's power demand had crossed 17,000 MW during the previous year without widespread power cuts, the current supply crisis has sparked criticism over the management of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL), with the situation posing a challenge for the state government in its final year of office. According to PSPCL's report, on June 27, agricultural consumers in the border areas received only 4.5 hours of electricity, while the rest of Punjab's farming sector received between three and four-and-a-half hours of supply. Industrial feeders in Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Amritsar, and Mandi Gobindgarh experienced power cuts of approximately 2.25 hours. Even with markets and industries remaining closed on Sunday, the state failed to meet the overall electricity demand. Protesting farmers surrounded the Dhaula power grid and the Goindwal sub-station in the Majha region. Road blockades were also reported on the Bathinda-Zirakpur highway near Tapa, at Kathunangal Toll Plaza, Mangwal Grid, and the Rampura-Talwandi Sabo road in the Maur constituency. Farmers also blocked traffic in Aulakh village on the Muktsar-Malout road by setting up protest camps. Farmers from Dheemanwali in Faridkot district, Lalchian in Guru Har Sahai, and Gurusar in Gidderbaha said they were receiving only three to four hours of electricity each day. As a result, many have started purchasing diesel generators to avoid higher crop losses and rising irrigation costs. Farmer Daljit Singh stated that villages including Khapp, Hansawala, and Pindian were receiving only two to three hours of electricity supply. Punjab continues to experience extreme heat, with temperatures crossing 45 degrees Celsius. The Meteorological Department has forecast rainfall beginning July 1, although light rain was recorded in only four districts on Sunday. PSPCL is currently generating only 5,744 MW of electricity from its own sources and is relying on the central power pool to meet the remaining demand. Four units at the Ropar Thermal Plant are not operating at full capacity, while one unit at the Lehra Thermal Plant remains shut despite there being no shortage of coal. Officials indicate that the earlier conflict between the management and engineers is now affecting operational efficiency. Meanwhile, Sarwan Singh Pandher, a leader of the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, announced that if electricity supply does not improve, farmers will stage demonstrations outside PSPCL offices on June 30. On the industrial front, Jarnail Singh, President of the MSME Furnace Association, Mandi Gobindgarh, has written to the Power Secretary alleging that industries faced an unscheduled eight-hour power cut on the night of June 27. He further claimed that another notice had been issued for power cuts on the night of June 28, warning that repeated outages could severely impact small-scale industries.