Power connections to four irrigation pumps in Sadullapur, Gaibandha, have allegedly been cut without any reason. The incident happened in the Mohishbandi area of Rasulpur union in the upazila. It has put Boro rice cultivation on more than 100 bighas of land belonging to about 50 farmers in doubt, and farmers are deeply worried by the unexpected setback at the start of the season.
In the fields of Mohishbandi village in Rasulpur union, Boro farmers were seen lamenting, spending their days in despair over the disconnected pumps.
Pumps that served farmers for two decades
Abu Taher Akanda, Liakat Akanda, Ayub Ali and Azim Uddin are regular customers in the Mohishbandi area, under tariff category LT-B, of the Sadullapur zonal office of Rangpur Palli Bidyut Samity-1. For nearly two decades they have used their power connections to irrigate ordinary farmers' land for Boro. As every year, farmers began Boro cultivation this year too: some have transplanted seedlings, others were preparing to.
Meanwhile, officials of the Sadullapur zonal office cut the power to all four pumps at once without informing the customers. Boro cultivation on more than 100 bighas is being seriously hampered as a result.
Farmer Aynal Akanda said: "At first I used water only to transplant the seedlings. Then suddenly last Thursday people from the power office cut the line to the motor. Now I am worried about how I will grow the crop."
Another farmer, Bablu Mia, said he had recently prepared to transplant seedlings, but without water he cannot soak the land and puddle it, so he is worried about the crop.
Pump owners face farmers' anger
The affected customers and pump owners, Abu Taher Akanda, Liakat Akanda, Ayub Ali and Azim Uddin, said the pumps were disconnected without any notice or prior warning. They can no longer irrigate the farmers' land, and angry farmers are now demanding compensation from them.
When contacted, Nurul Shamsul Huda, deputy general manager (DGM) of the Sadullapur zonal office of Rangpur Palli Bidyut Samity-1, cut the call, saying he was busy.
Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.
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