Punjab Minister Appeals to Striking Power Employees: Resume Work to Protect Farmers

Chandigarh: Punjab Minister for Power and New and Renewable Energy, Aman Arora, on Sunday appealed to the striking employees of the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) to immediately withdraw their protest, citing severe disruption to essential services and immense hardship to farmers during the crucial paddy transplantation season.

Arora stated that approximately 90 per cent of the corporation's employees—around 18,500 personnel—are on strike, affecting nearly three crore residents across the state. He emphasised that the government cannot tolerate attempts to pressure it by disrupting public services or causing distress to citizens.

The minister made a direct appeal to the workers, saying, 'I fold my hands and appeal to my Power Corporation employee brothers and sisters to withdraw the strike and restore electricity services to normal. Neither the government nor the people can accept actions that create pressure through disruption of essential services.'

The strike comes at a critical time when farmers are heavily dependent on electricity for irrigation during the paddy transplantation season. Any prolonged power cuts could lead to significant crop losses and economic hardship for agriculture-dependent families.

The Punjab government has been in dialogue with employee unions to resolve the issues, but the strike continues. The minister urged the employees to consider the larger public interest and return to work, assuring them that their concerns would be addressed through proper channels.

This development highlights the ongoing tension between labour demands and public service obligations, with the state government emphasising the need for uninterrupted power supply essential for both agricultural and domestic use.