Statesman News Service
MALDA, 14 JAN: The “mystery” behind protracted power cuts throughout north Bengal over the past few days, stands unraveled. Power is being diverted to south Bengal districts to irrigate the boro paddy fields.
Power department officials have been facing public ire in north Bengal the past few days for the prolonged power cuts. They, however, had been trying their best to play it close to their chest keeping the lid on. The cat is, however, out of the bag.
“Suspend power and supply it to the sought Bengal districts for boro paddy cultivation, is our current directive”, divulge a senior power department official here today.
Speaking on the matter, the divisional manager of the state electricity distribution company limited in Malda Mr D K Mondal today said: “The demand for power to aid boro paddy cultivation in the sought Bengal districts have increased unusually. The current demand is for 1000 to 1200 mega watts. The department is committed to supply power to the farmers in the given situation”.
According to him, the other reason for the shortfall is malfunctioning power generating units. “More than four power generating units have collapsed, which has added to the shortfall.
Meeting the farmers’ demand for more power at this juncture is taking the toll”, he added.
He, however, could not assure when the situation would normalize.
According to the Malda district magistrate Mr Sridhar Ghosh, farmers in Burdwan, Midnapore, Bankura and Birbhum districts are consuming extra power to lift ground water with the help of pumps throughout the night to irrigate the boro paddy fields, which has caused the shortfall in north Bengal.
Speaking on the subject, agriculture department officials said north Bengal two would require power for irrigation of boro paddy after a few days. Farmers of south Bengal start boro cultivation earlier than in north Bengal.
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