Krantikari Kissan Union Punjab oppose move to install meters on tubewells

Ferozepur, January 28, 2018: Farmers under the banner of the Krantikari Kissan Union Punjab opposed the Cabinet’s decision to install power meters on tubewells under a pilot project and non-waiving off of farmers debts in its important meeting held at village Mehma under the tutelage of Avtar Singh Mehma, Vice President.

The Union condemned the intention and policies of the government and decided to stage protest February 1 in front of the DC office in case the decision for the installation of power meters is not rolled back.

The leaders also asked the asked the government to withdraw power subsidy to influential landlords who possessed almost half of the 13.5 lakh agriculture tubewell connections in the state.

They suspected that the new move would be applicable only for farmers with small landholdings.

Addressing the farmers, Avtar Singh Mehma said, the farmers is already debt-ridden and committing suicides and now come up with the anti-farmer decision. He said, the Capt government has promised to clear the debts of farmers and labourers but even after passing of 10 months period, no promise has been fulfilled.

He alleged that the state government’s move to install electricity meters on tube-wells hints at its intention to withdraw the power subsidy being extended to the farming community of the state.

The farmer unions would never allow the government to implement such “anti-farmer” decisions, he added.

There is a great resentment among the farmers and in case no farmer-friendly decision is taken, the agitation in the state will be intensified.