In a major relief to farmers ahead of the paddy sowing season, the Punjab Government on Monday claimed to have completed all necessary arrangements to ensure uninterrupted power supply during the crucial agricultural period.   Announcing this during a press conference, Power Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO said that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is personally monitoring preparations to ensure smooth power delivery during the peak farming months. This year, we have made proactive arrangements to not only meet but exceed last years peak electricity demand of 16,058 MW. We are prepared for up to 17,000 MW, with a 30-day coal reserve and upgraded transmission infrastructure, Harbhajan Singh stated.   The Minister unveiled the states power supply schedule for the paddy season, declaring an eight-hour daily power supply to agricultural consumers. The uninterrupted supply began from May 15 in areas practicing Direct Sowing of Rice (DSR) and will roll out to other regions in phases, aligned with the governments sowing schedule.   Harbhajan Singh also underlined the governments push for DSR, an eco-friendly alternative to traditional transplantation methods. Traditional paddy cultivation consumes nearly 3,800 liters of water per kilogram of rice. With DSR, farmers can save 400-500 liters per kilogram, he said. To incentivize this, the government is offering Rs 1,500 per acre subsidy for DSR adopters.   Paddy sowing will begin in phases across districts, with DSR permitted from May 15 to 31. From June 1, sowing will commence in border districts and canal-irrigated zones like Fazilka, Bathinda, and Ferozepur. Other regions, including Ludhiana, Patiala, and Jalandhar, will begin sowing from June 9.   Crucially, Harbhajan Singh assured that there will be no power cuts for domestic and industrial consumers during the paddy season, affirming the governments resolve to maintain seamless electricity supply across all sectors. With robust infrastructure, strategic planning, and a farmer-first approach, we are fully prepared to support Punjabs agricultural backbone this season, said the Minister.

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