Samiti threatens indefinite hunger strike over irregular power supply

The Karnataka Rajya Shoshitara Seva Samiti has threatened to launch an indefinite hunger strike in front of the Gulbarga Electricity Supply Company (Gescom) office in Yadgir from October 26, demanding seven hours of uninterrupted power supply daily to agricultural pump sets.

Addressing a press conference here on Saturday, the samiti’s State president, Moulali Anapur, said farmers were facing severe hardship due to deficient rainfall and inadequate power supply, which had affected irrigation and standing crops.

Mr. Anapur alleged that despite repeated representations to the Gescom officials, the farmers were receiving only about six hours of erratic power supply a day. This had made it difficult for them to grow paddy and groundnut to irrigate their fields adequately, he said.

Pointing to the combined impact of deficient rainfall and irregular power supply, he said farmers feared losing their crops, some of which were nearing harvest.

He said the samiti had decided to launch the agitation as the authorities had failed to address the farmers’ demand for seven hours of continuous power supply for agricultural activities.

The samiti’s general secretary, Ashok Watkar, and office-bearers Vijay Kumar Shiragola and Nagendra Raichurkar were present.