Pargwal:
The Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) Kissan Congress today launched a strong protest against the Power Development Department (PDD) at border village Mirpur Kona in Pargwal Sector, accusing the department of deliberately ignoring the genuine and long-pending problems of the farming community.The protest was led by JKPCC Kissan Congress Chairman Bharat Priye, who strongly condemned the alleged failure of the PDD to reinstall an electricity transformer damaged during floods nearly one-and-a-half years ago.
Priye said it was shocking that despite such a prolonged period, the department had failed to restore the transformer, while the damaged equipment was allegedly lying abandoned in the agricultural fields. He said the situation exposes the complete lack of accountability and sensitivity towards farmers, particularly those living in the border belt.“Is this the manner in which the government wants to support farmers? A transformer damaged one-and-a-half years ago is still lying in the fields, while officers continue to sit idle. Farmers are being forced to arrange their own sources of irrigation by borrowing money,” Priye said.
He said the farming community in Mirpur Kona and adjoining border areas is dependent on irrigation for paddy cultivation, but the absence of electricity has made agricultural operations increasingly difficult and expensive.Priye said farmers have been compelled to operate diesel engine sets after arranging money through loans and borrowings just to save their paddy crop. However, he added that continuing irrigation through diesel-powered engines is placing an unbearable financial burden on small and marginal farmers.
He accused the PDD of showing an “anti-farmer attitude” and said that while the government makes repeated announcements about supporting the agricultural sector, farmers on the ground are being left to fend for themselves.“The government cannot claim to be farmer-friendly while farmers are forced to purchase diesel with borrowed money simply because the Power Department cannot reinstall a transformer even after 18 months,” Priye said.
He demanded that the concerned authorities immediately remove the damaged transformer from the fields and install a functional transformer without any further delay. He also sought accountability from the officers responsible for the prolonged delay.Priye made it clear that the Kissan Congress would not allow the issue to be buried under official assurances. He served the department a 48-hour ultimatum to restore the power infrastructure and ensure uninterrupted electricity supply to the affected farmers.
“If the PDD fails to act within two days, the JKPCC Kissan Congress will intensify its agitation and launch a strong protest against the department. The farmers have waited long enough and will not be forced to suffer indefinitely due to administrative negligence,” he warned.He also urged the district administration and senior PDD officers to intervene immediately and resolve the issue on priority, stressing that farmers in border villages contribute significantly to the local economy and food production despite facing difficult working conditions.
The protesters warned that continued neglect of the issue would leave the Kissan Congress with no option but to expand the agitation and mobilise the affected farming community.Prominent among those who participated in the protest were Kali Manhas, Kulbir Singh, Milkhi Manhas, Rattan Singh, Jagtar Singh, Panu, Shinda Panch, Sikander Singh and Parthi Singh, besides a large number of local farmers and residents.