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Farmers in Karnataka’s Hubli brought a crocodile at the premises of the state-run Hubli Electricity Supply Company (HESCOM) to protest against the acute power cuts, as per a video circulated on October 25.
According to reports, the unique protest was aimed at highlighting the threat posed by wild animals, including snakes, as the farmers have to venture into their fields in the night due to lack of daytime power supply.
The alligator which the protesters brought at the HESCOM office was captured in the fields of one of the farmers, the local media reports said, adding that the villagers decided to capture it and bring it to the electricity department’s premises to highlight the threat.
HESCOM officials called the police and forest department officials as soon as the crocodile was brought, while also assuring the aggrieved farmers that their concerns would be addressed.
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The alligator was released by the forest department officials in Almatti Dam, from where it was considered to have earlier strayed into the fields.
Karnataka has been facing a shortage of around 1,500-2,000 megawatts of electricity, triggered by deficit rain, which has led to the extraordinary periods of power cuts. At the same time, the power demand in the region has jumped due to the ongoing agricultural season and the soaring temperatures.
As per the state energy department, Karnataka is facing an an unexpected demand of over 15,000 MW in October. The power available for the current is estimated to have been reduced by around 3,000 million units, which is equivalent to nearly four percent of the annual demand.
The demand for power required for agricultural purposes has increased as deficit rainfall has compelled farmers to reply on irrigation pumps.
According to the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Cell (KSNDMC), the overall rain deficit in the state during this year’s Monsoon was 25 percent, and the shortfall peaked to 32 percent in the Cauvery river basin region.
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Updated: 25 Oct 2023, 04:14 PM IST
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