Surat Farmers Lose 98 Hectares of Crops to Fires; Leader Flags Power Negligence

SURAT: For farmers who spend months nurturing their crops, watching sugarcane fields turn into ashes is a devastating blow. In Surat district, alleged power infrastructure negligence, a farmer’s death due to electrocution and a rising wave of farm equipment thefts have triggered demands for urgent action from the police and Dakshin Gujarat Vij Company Limited (DGVCL).

Darshan Naik, general secretary of the Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee and a farmer leader, has submitted separate representations to the Surat District Superintendent of Police and DGVCL’s managing director, seeking accountability, compensation and urgent repairs to ageing electricity infrastructure.

According to the representations, sugarcane crops spread across approximately 98 hectares in the Kamrej, Chalthan and Sayan sugar mill areas have been destroyed by fires, causing losses worth lakhs of rupees to farmers.

Sugarcane Fields Reduced to Ashes

The representation states that sugarcane belonging to 12 farmer-members across around 21 hectares in the Kamrej sugar mill area was burnt this year. In the Chalthan area, crops across approximately five hectares were destroyed last year, followed by another 40 hectares this year, affecting 10 farmer-members. In the Sayan area, around 32 hectares belonging to approximately 15 farmer-members were also affected.

Naik alleged that repeated appeals had failed to prevent such incidents, even before the current sugarcane harvesting season began.

“Farmers cannot be left to watch their hard-earned crops burn in front of their eyes. Repeated representations must lead to action, not remain on paper,” Naik said.

Farmer’s Death Raises Safety Concerns

The representation also highlights the death of a farmer in Pipariya village of Mandvi taluka after electrocution allegedly caused by a broken power line. Naik stated that the issue had been reported in writing, with photographs and videos, eight days before the fatal incident.

He has demanded compensation for the deceased farmer’s family and disciplinary action against officials found responsible. The demands also include a district-wide survey of old electricity poles and wires, replacement of unsafe infrastructure and measures to prevent sparking and short circuits.

Farm Equipment Theft Adds to Distress

Farmers in Olpad, Kamrej and Mandvi are also reportedly facing repeated thefts of water motors, cables and agricultural equipment, disrupting irrigation and causing financial losses.

Naik has urged police to investigate pending and recent cases, review complaints filed over the past three years and increase patrolling in agricultural areas in coordination with DGVCL.

With canal irrigation supplies expected to be suspended soon, he has additionally demanded 12 hours of daily electricity for farmers until water is restored, to protect sugarcane, vegetable and horticultural crops, as well as livestock fodder.

The representations seek urgent intervention from the authorities. The allegations of negligence and the circumstances of the reported incidents require examination by the competent authorities.