The state electricity distribution company refuses to take blame for increasing number of suicides among farmers in the region.
NASHIK: The power crisis in north Maharashtra has been attributed as the reason for three cases of suicides by farmers in the recent past.
Three farmers, one from Dasegaon in Chalisgaon taluka, another from Walunj in Nagar taluka and the third from Bhadgaon Pachore in Nandurbar, ended their lives blaming the power situation for pushing them towards taking such a drastic step.
While one of them consumed poison in the MSEDCL office, another electrocuted himself. The third farmer set himself on fire after blaming the corrupt practices of a superintendent engineer of Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (MSEDCL) for his death.
The MSEDCL, however, refused to accept blame. “In all these case we have conducted probes and found that there were other reasons like financial debts that have pushed these farmers to end their lives. There have been no suicides due to load shedding. We are not ready to accept this claim,” said M K Deore, chief engineer, MSEDCL, Nashik zone.
The rural areas suffer a power cut of 14 hours a day. Power is available to the villagers at odd hours as load shedding is implemented during peak hours.
In Chehedi, power is available from midnight to the early hours of the morning. “We wake up in the middle of the night to water our farms. Women get up at 4 am to fill up water for drinking and household activities. This routine has become extremely cumbersome,” said Shivnath Rumane, a farmer.
The MSEDCL, however, claimed that the load shedding timings were decided in consultation with the villagers. In most cases, it is done in two phases. But farmers complained that this practice was of no use to them as they cannot operate their water pumps.
“Load shedding is now an accepted reality, however harsh it may be,” said Deore, adding, “the villagers are demanding uninterrupted power supply for eight to 10 hours. Their demand is rational, but presently the situation has become critical due to the power situation in Mumbai. The private power companies in Mumbai have withdrawn from us to meet their increasing demands. This has caused a severe shortage for us. We are left with no choice but to resort to power cuts.”
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