At present, the situation appears to be getting from bad to worse. Be it industry, agriculture sector, common consumers — all are reeling under long power cuts even as summer is still not here.

Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Badal, who was in Bathinda today to inaugurate a kisan mela, reiterated the government’s commitment to take Punjab out of the power crisis in future. Again, it is another matter that Bathinda remained powerless for most part of the day today.

The Indian Express today tried to judge the pulse of consumers in different sectors and found that mere promises do not cut any ice with them.

“Like water is to fish, power is to industry. To the already suffering industry, poor power supply is no less than dealing a death blow to it,” said Rajinder Mittal, chairman and managing director of Mittal Group and president of Vanaspati and Refined Oil Manufacturers’ Association, Punjab.

“For industry people, waiting for three to four years in anticipation of Punjab becoming a power-surplus state is no less than living in a fool’s paradise,” said Mittal, adding, “When the industry would close down waiting for power and when there would be no power consumers, the state would automatically become a power-surplus state. It is as simple as that.”

Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta) general secretary Sukhdev Singh Kokrikalan suggested: “Instead of thermal power projects, why is the government not considering setting up biomass power plants.”

Divisional Soil Conservation Officer S.K. Kansal said power cuts adversely affect drip irrigation as well, leading to lower yields.

In his address during the Kisan Mela, Sukhbir lauded PAU for promoting agriculture and improving food security. He also asked PAU to create awareness among farmers to report the malpractice of selling spurious see and agro-chemicals. Outside the venue, however, illegal sale of seeds was reported and authorities swung into action only after some mediapersons reached them for their comments.