NOIDA: Amid persistent electricity issues in rural areas of Dankaur due to overloading and outdated infrastructure, members of the Kisan Ekta Mahasangh (KEM) submitted a memorandum to power officials on Sunday, demanding urgent action to address the problems.The six-point demand list was handed over to sub-divisional officer Ajay Kumar Gupta and junior engineer Harendra Verma at the Dankaur substation. Farmers urged officials to replace aging infrastructure, upgrade transformers, and halt the installation of smart meters.Around 30 villages, located between Sectors 17 and 18 of the YEIDA area and home to populations ranging from 500 to 5,000 residents, are affected by erratic power supply. These include Dungarpur Rilka, Usmanpur, Bela Khurd, Bajarpur, among others.One of the key demands was to increase the installed capacity of transformers from 10 kV to 25 kV to match rising power usage. “Currently, 10-12 kV transformers are used in these villages, with only one to three transformers per village. However, power demand has increased significantly due to the widespread use of air conditioners and coolers, necessitating transformers of over 20-25 kV now,” said KEM national spokesperson Rajendra Chauhan.KEM district president Arvind said farmers have repeatedly raised concerns about rusting poles and damaged cables that pose serious safety and supply issues. “The demand is not just for transformer upgrades but also the replacement of deteriorating power cables and rusting poles. We also want the removal of 11,000-volt lines running through villages, which are a safety hazard,” he said.Another demand included the prompt replacement of faulty transformers within 24 hours of breakdown. Farmers also sought an immediate halt to the installation of smart meters, claiming they give multiple readings and have led to billing discrepancies.Ramesh Kasana, national president of KEM, said the farmers’ body would continue to press for improvements in rural power infrastructure. “As concerns regarding electricity supply continue to affect rural communities, the Kisan Ekta Mahasangh raised these issues with electricity officials and is pushing for concrete solutions,” he said.KEM members further alleged that despite the govt’s announcement of a waiver on electricity bills for tube wells, many farmers still received bills, compounding their grievances.Power officials assured the delegation that the issues raised would be addressed as per protocols. “We will conduct a survey and take necessary approvals to resolve the concerns highlighted,” one of the officials said.Among the KEM representatives present at the meeting were Ramanand Kasana, Pappu Pradhan, Ravi Nagar, Amit Nagar, Dr Jafar Khan, Manveer Nagar, Rakesh Nagar, Harendra Kasana, Gajraj Kasana, Manu Nagar, Jaiprakash Chauhan, Sachin Ambawata and others.
