Farmers protest against low-voltage power supply for agricultural pumps

Kolhapur: Farmers protested outside the MSEDCL office at Tarabai Park in Kolhapur on Monday over low voltage and erratic electricity supply to agricultural pumps, resulting in uneven water distribution during the peak summer season.The farmers from Kolhapur and Sangli districts were joined by representatives of the Maharashtra State Irrigation Federation and cooperative water supply societies during the protest. They alleged that low voltage power supply continued despite the installation of smart meters.Former MLA Sampatbapu Patil said with temperatures soaring beyond 41°C, inadequate power supply made it impossible for the farmers to irrigate their crops. "Frequent power outages and low-voltage supply are damaging the motor pumps of cooperative water supply organisations, significantly increasing repair costs. Most of these institutions are 40 to 50 years old. Repeated shutdowns and restarts are increasing pressure on pipelines, leading to higher rates of leakage. If this continues, the farmers will suffer losses amounting to crores of rupees," he said.Kolhapur district president of the Maharashtra State Irrigation Federation, Vikrant Patil-Kinikar, said the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) had failed to supply power at adequate voltage to both cooperative and individual agricultural pump owners. "We demand uninterrupted power supply to agricultural pumps for eight hours daily, with compensation of equivalent hours if supply is disrupted. All pumps and cooperative water supply institutions be provided electricity at proper voltage," he said, while opposing the compulsory installation of solar panels along riverbanks.He insisted that such pumps be connected through regular feeders, demanding MSEDCL to compensate farmers for crop losses due to power supply failures.A delegation submitted a written memorandum detailing their demands to MSEDCL chief engineer Swapnil Katkar, warning of intensified agitation if the issues were not resolved. Responding, Katkar acknowledged the prevailing power shortage, assuring that efforts would be made to ensure minimal disruptions going forward. "In case of power shutdowns, supply will be restored with higher capacity after 10pm on the same day. If cooperative water supply organisations request, electricity can be provided for four days during the day and three days at night. We will also assess each feeder to ensure electricity is supplied at appropriate voltage," he said.