Patiala, June 30: The ongoing dialogue surrounding Punjab’s rural electricity infrastructure has grown more complex following a series of state-wide demonstrations by agrarian unions. The Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) has cautioned that it may escalate its current localized sit-ins into a broader “chakka jam” across major transportation routes if communication channels regarding power delivery systems remain blocked.
The friction intensified following an incident in Moga where a delegation of farmers travelling to attend Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s public interaction platform, the Lok Milni programme, was temporarily detained by local police. The union expressed dissatisfaction with the administrative handling of the situation, noting that the peaceful delegation simply intended to use the official forum to present grievances regarding localized power outages and request formal modifications to current rural energy initiatives.
KMM coordinator Sarwan Pandher affirmed that the union remains committed to seeking a collaborative resolution to the power shortage but will continue to advocate firmly for rural consumers. “If the government continued to suppress farmers’ voice, the unions would hold a ‘chakka jam’,” Pandher declared, adding that the group intends to consistently use institutional channels to seek answers. “The boy slipped… Farmer delegations would continue to attend the Chief Minister’s Lok Milni programmes and ask him questions about the current power crisis.”
Beyond immediate supply concerns, the union’s advocacy has expanded to address technical and metering frameworks in rural areas. The KMM has requested that the installation of digital smart meters proceed only with the clear consent of individual consumers. Additionally, the organization has called for the reassessment of penalties levied during recent meter transitions and recommended the reinstallation of traditional equipment to help stabilize consumer relations while the state navigates the summer demand peak.
