Farmers in the western part of Wai taluka are facing repeated electricity interruptions for agricultural pumps, with power reportedly dropping 20 to 25 times during the scheduled eight-hour supply window and disrupting irrigation for standing crops.
The interruptions are occurring every 15 to 20 minutes, according to a report by Sakal – Pune. Farmers say the frequent outages have made it difficult to operate agricultural pumps and provide crops with adequate water at a time when the area is experiencing drought-like conditions.
The disruption has become more serious after the failure of unseasonal rains, as farmers attempt to protect crops that are nearing harvest. Although the scheduled supply for agricultural pumps is eight hours, farmers say the repeated interruptions mean that the nominal supply duration does not translate into continuous operating time for irrigation equipment.
The issue also raises questions about the reliability of agricultural electricity delivery in areas where irrigation depends on a fixed supply window. Farmers quoted in the report said the government provides free electricity to cultivators, but asked what benefit the scheme provides if the supply remains unstable and pumps cannot be operated properly.
Farmers from western Wai have demanded that Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited, known as Mahavitaran, stop the repeated interruptions and provide the planned eight hours of uninterrupted electricity to agricultural pumps.
Swapnil Gaikwad, a Wai panchayat samiti member, said the interruptions were adding to farmers’ difficulties instead of providing relief during drought-like conditions. He warned that a large group of farmers from Wai taluka could march to the Mahavitaran office if the problem was not resolved immediately.
Mahavitaran has attributed the disruption to a rise in electricity demand after the canal system of Dhom Dam was opened. Sagar Magdum, a branch engineer with Mahavitaran in Vyahali, said the increased demand had placed an additional load on the electricity supply system.
Magdum said the supply was expected to become stable in the coming days and that efforts were under way to provide farmers with electricity properly. The statement did not specify the number of affected agricultural connections, the exact cause of the repeated interruptions or a detailed timeline for restoring uninterrupted supply.
For farmers in western Wai, the immediate concern remains the gap between the scheduled eight-hour supply and the electricity actually available to run irrigation pumps. The next step identified by Mahavitaran is to stabilise supply in the coming days while continuing efforts to manage the additional demand linked to the Dhom Dam canal.
