Erratic Supply Damages Shallow Pumps
Farmers besiege power station in Pabna
Several hundred farmers besieged the sub-station of Rural Electrification Board-1 (Reb-1) at Handial Union under Chatmohar upazila on Wednesday night as erratic power supply damaged scores of shallow pumps used for irrigating agricultural land in the area in the last three days.
On information, upazila official and police rushed to the spot and pacified the agitating farmers. They assured the farmers of taking necessary steps to supply uninterrupted power at night so that they (farmers) can keep their pumps operational.
Sources in the agriculture department said over 200 hundred shallow pumps in Chatmohar, Vangura and Faridpur upazilas of the district went out of order in a week due to erratic power supply.
Though 29,595 hectares of land have been brought under boro cultivation in the three upazila this year, farmers are worried about a good crop yield as they cannot supply required water to their land to help plants grow, sources added.
Reb-1 official said farmers in the upazilas are using at least 3,700 shallow pumps, but erratic power supply hampers proper irrigation of their boro fields.
“We often do not operate our pumps due to low voltage and power outage. So, we cannot expect good yield of boro this season,” said a farmer of Chatmohar area.
Reb officials said they need 34 to 35 megawatt power in a day for the irrigation pumps in Chatmphar, Vangura and Faridpur upazila. But they get only 10 to 12 megawatt.
Contacted, Reb-1 General Manager (GM) Md Omar Ali said they are bound to make 6 to 8 hours loadsheding in a day due to inadequate power supply. “We have requested the authorities concerned to increase power supply to this region for proper irrigation of boro lands.
“We have requested Reb officials several times to ensure power supply for irrigation. Many pumps have been damaged in different areas of Chatmohar upazila due to erratic power supply. The situation will get worse if necessary steps are not taken immediately.” Said Md Ajahar Ali, agriculture officer of Chatmohar upazila.
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