- The project will begin as a pilot in Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s native village, Satoj
Punjab Newsline | Jalandhar
The Punjab government has decided to remove electricity poles installed in agricultural fields and replace them with underground power cables. The move aims to provide relief to farmers, improve power supply efficiency, and eliminate issues caused by overhead wiring.
Under this plan, large infrastructure setups in fields will be replaced with smaller, smarter systems. The decision has been taken keeping in mind the convenience of farmers and agricultural workers, along with the need to modernize power distribution and reduce land-related disputes. The project will begin as a pilot in Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann’s native village, Satoj.
Why This Plan Was Introduced
The presence of overhead wires and poles often leads to accidents. Sparks from loose or damaged wires have been known to cause fires, especially during harvesting when machines like combine harvesters are in use.
Additionally, installing poles requires support wires and space, which often leads to disputes among farmers over land usage. In many cases, these poles occupy valuable agricultural land, reducing the area available for cultivation and causing financial losses.
“Villages Will Look Cleaner Without Poles”: CM Mann
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann described the initiative as a highly ambitious project. He said that removing poles and shifting to underground wiring will not only improve the appearance of villages but also enhance safety and reduce conflicts.
He added that the new system will ensure better and more reliable electricity supply, while also eliminating damage and disputes related to poles and overhead wires. The pilot project is set to begin this month in Satoj, and a meeting with the power department will be held soon to finalize further steps.
Punjab currently has around 13,236 gram panchayats, and more than 300,000 electricity poles are installed across agricultural lands. Farmers rely on these poles and wires to supply electricity to irrigation motors. In villages like Satoj, which has around 2,000 acres of farmland, there are approximately 400 motors and over 800 electricity poles installed.