Angered with acute shortage of power supply to rural areas surrounding state capital, the farmers led by Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) on Thursday organised a procession at UP Power Corporation limited (UPPCl) headquarters, Shakti Bhawan.
The farmers dissatisfied with assurances of officials held a panchayat till late in evening.
The farmers raising slogans against state government reached Shakti Bhawan in morning and tried putting locks at gates of the building which led to clash with the police and power corporation officials. They were accusing officials for miguiding the government as scheduled supply was not being made in their areas.
The farmers from mango belt including Mall, Malihabad, Kakori and Gosaiganj blocks of lucknow participating in procession held the errant power supply and negligent attitude of power corporation responsible for poor mango crop this season.
Addressing panchayat of farmers in Shakti Bhawan premises, BKU district president Harnam Singh Verma said, contrary to claims of state government rural areas of lucknow were getting just two hour supply and the power corporation was charging bills at the rates fixed for urban areas which was a serious anomaly.
Demanding at least 16 hour supply and bills being charged like other rural areas in the state, he said, the officials were not even heeding the chief minister, Akhilesh Yadav who recently have ordered power corporation officials to inform farmers regarding supply schedule in advance.
late in evening, after several rounds of talks with UPPCl managing director, AP Mishra, the farmers warned if16 hour supply was not ensured in their areas from tomorrow they would gherao power corporation headquarters for a indefinite period.
Meanwhile BKU leader, Rakesh Tikait shot off a letter to chief minister demanding Rs 200 bonus being given to farmers over per quintal government purchase of wheat in view if hiked cost of farming in previous one year.
Stressing that fixation of wheat price was based on other factors instead of cost of farming making it a joke with farmers, Tikait said, in 2012-13 the central cost and price commission had recommended wheat price Rs 1450 per quintal while the centre has fixed quite insufficient Rs 1350 per quintal price. In price fixation 122 percent hike in fertilizer prices, Rs 10 per litre hike in diesel price and significant hike in wages of labourers has been neglected.
Seeking appointment with chief minister to discuss this issue, Tikait said, the current wheat price was ridiculous.