Maharashtra: The floriculture industry of Maharashtra which is the highest foreign exchange earner in the state suffers a blow with increasing power cuts and the mounting costs of generating power.
"There are power- cuts of more than 8- 10 hours every single day, forcing us to make use of generators. Diesel used for generating power costs us Rs 2,000 every single day. Our business is getting seriously affected, Floriculturist Shivaji Bhegade says.
The intermittent power-cuts go up to 10- 12 hours sometimes disrupting the work of the peasants in rural Maharashtra. With absolutely no shortage of manpower in the fields, all that the peasants are asking the state administration for is power.
"We are only asking the government for better roads and uninterrupted power. Only then can we support the government, said Shivaji Bhegade.
Farming experts and analysts however feel the government is far removed from this community's plight. Prof. Agriculturist and Farming Expert Dr Bhudhajirao Mulik said, "Let there be a tornado or there is a disease, may be heavy rain or floods, our senators have no botheration for farmers."
Even as the power shortage gets on to their nerves, farmers have little option but to simply watch the rot settle in. Businesses wilt just like their produce. All that they hope is for the state administration to do something that brings power back into their livelihoods.
Source : ibnlive.com
