Manmeet Singh, a farmer from Amritsar, said, “We are heading towards colder days, and during this time, light irrigation is essential or else the wheat crop gets damaged. But the power supply during the day is so erratic that we cannot irrigate our fields.

There is electricity in the night, but it is not possible to get up in the dead of the night in bone-piercing winter to

irrigate the fields.”

According to farmers, the potato crop may also face damage. Jang Bahadur Singh Sangha, a potato grower from Jalandhar, said, “Potato crop is highly sensitive and any sudden change in temperature can damage it. Frost is bad for the crop, but we cannot fight the weather. At least we can ask for regular power supply so that we can save the crop.”

But it seems the farmers’ prayers will not be answered. Officials at the Punjab State Electricity Board said, “We have to return power to

Himachal Pradesh, which we had used during the summer. Hence, for the coming

week, the situation is not likely to improve.”

B S Baath, Chief Engineer, Ludhiana Circle, said, “The power supply to rural areas was static till today. We are facing some problems, as two units at the Lehra Mohabbat plant have tripped, but the situation should ease in a day or two.”

Balwinder Singh Sidhu, Director, Agriculture, too is keeping his fingers crossed. “The night temperatures are hovering around the normal. However, a dip in the temperature could worsen the situation. Even the present weather is not good for vegetables, though the wheat crop is in good health.”