This webinar discussed the electricity supply challenges in Chandan, Jaisalmer, which significantly impact the agricultural sector. The event, moderated by CEEP, featured local farmers, power sector experts, and RERC officials who explored solutions to the region's inconsistent electricity supply and frequent voltage fluctuations. A total of 72 participants engaged in the dialogue, which highlighted the need for infrastructural improvements and better maintenance to support agricultural productivity and mitigate financial setbacks for farmers.
Agriculture has a multifaceted dependence on electricity, influencing various aspects of farming operations. Issues like irregular supply and voltage fluctuations not only adversely affect crops but also lead to problems such as burnt meters and transformers, and malfunctioning tube well equipment. These problems cause farmers to suffer significant financial losses. Farmers in the Chandan area of Jaisalmer district, Rajasthan, heavily reliant on irrigation, face similar challenges with irregular electricity supply and voltage fluctuations. Despite their efforts to address these issues through various means, they have observed no improvement in the situation.
CEEP is hosting a dialogue to delve into the complexities of electricity supply challenges in Chandan’s agricultural sector. This initiative shall foster discussions among local farmers, Discoms, regulatory commissions, and sector experts. The aim is to comprehensively understand the issues and analyse technical and financial solutions through collective consensus, with a focus on addressing systemic issues.
This webinar discussed the electricity supply challenges in Chandan, Jaisalmer, which significantly impact the agricultural sector. The event, moderated by CEEP, featured local farmers, power sector experts, and RERC officials who explored solutions to the region's inconsistent electricity supply and frequent voltage fluctuations. A total of 72 participants engaged in the dialogue, which highlighted the need for infrastructural improvements and better maintenance to support agricultural productivity and mitigate financial setbacks for farmers.
Agriculture has a multifaceted dependence on electricity, influencing various aspects of farming operations. Issues like irregular supply and voltage fluctuations not only adversely affect crops but also lead to problems such as burnt meters and transformers, and malfunctioning tube well equipment. These problems cause farmers to suffer significant financial losses. Farmers in the Chandan area of Jaisalmer district, Rajasthan, heavily reliant on irrigation, face similar challenges with irregular electricity supply and voltage fluctuations. Despite their efforts to address these issues through various means, they have observed no improvement in the situation.
CEEP is hosting a dialogue to delve into the complexities of electricity supply challenges in Chandan’s agricultural sector. This initiative shall foster discussions among local farmers, Discoms, regulatory commissions, and sector experts. The aim is to comprehensively understand the issues and analyse technical and financial solutions through collective consensus, with a focus on addressing systemic issues.
Jaitmal Singh Bhairwa is a farmer from Bhairwa village in the Chandan sub-division and is actively working to protect the interests of farmers in the region. He has raised awareness about electricity-related issues, bringing farmers' demands to the sub-division office, circle office, and other relevant authorities. Currently, he serves as the Secretary of the Kisan Sangharsh Samiti, Chandan.
Aiveer Singh Patavat is a farmer from Sanwala village in the Chandan sub-division and personally manages the local agricultural electricity system. As a social activist, he is actively involved in the conservation of Gramdaan and Gauchar-Oran land. Currently, he serves as the State General Secretary of the Gauchar-Oran Conservation Association.
Jaitharam Choudhary served as a technical field officer in various regions of Jodhpur Discom for 37 years. In 2021-22, he held the position of Superintending Engineer for the Jaisalmer Circle and retired on December 31, 2023, as the Superintending Engineer of Pali.
Praveen Kumar Garg is an electrical engineer who began his career with the Rajasthan State Electricity Board in 1991. Following the unbundling of the electricity board, he served in the state transmission company, Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Prasaran Nigam, and is currently working with the Rajasthan Electricity Regulatory Commission (RERC).
As Deputy Director (Distribution) at RERC, he handles matters related to electricity distribution, including regulating power procurement, distribution, supply, and usage. His responsibilities also include developing standards to ensure service quality, continuity, and reliability, as well as monitoring compliance by licensees. Additionally, he oversees the implementation of the supply code, consumer grievance redressal mechanisms, and other distribution-related functions.
Shweta has been actively engaged in the fields of energy efficiency, energy access, smart metering, and distributed renewable energy at Prayas. She has also contributed significantly to Prayas' initiatives on electricity supply quality and remote monitoring of residential energy consumption. Her areas of interest extend to climate change adaptation, urban development, and transport. Prior to joining Prayas, she worked in watershed development and IT consulting. In her leisure time, she enjoys trekking, birdwatching, cooking, and reading.
Simran Grover is the founder and CEO of the Centre for Energy, Environment, and People (CEEP), an initiative for energy equity and climate justice. The initiative is amongst the very few sub-national focused organisations in the country - enabling inclusion of diverse and marginal voices and meaningful action. He has substantive experience in the domains of renewable energy, power sector, applied research, and entrepreneurship. Currently, he leads critical work in just energy transition and power sector reforms, with emphasis on coalition building and collective action. He consistently writes on governance issues in the domain of electricity sector, energy transition, environment, and labour rights.
Jaitmal Singh Bhairwa is a farmer from Bhairwa village in the Chandan sub-division and is actively working to protect the interests of farmers in the region. He has raised awareness about electricity-related issues, bringing farmers' demands to the sub-division office, circle office, and other relevant authorities. Currently, he serves as the Secretary of the Kisan Sangharsh Samiti, Chandan.
Aiveer Singh Patavat is a farmer from Sanwala village in the Chandan sub-division and personally manages the local agricultural electricity system. As a social activist, he is actively involved in the conservation of Gramdaan and Gauchar-Oran land. Currently, he serves as the State General Secretary of the Gauchar-Oran Conservation Association.
Jaitharam Choudhary served as a technical field officer in various regions of Jodhpur Discom for 37 years. In 2021-22, he held the position of Superintending Engineer for the Jaisalmer Circle and retired on December 31, 2023, as the Superintending Engineer of Pali.
Praveen Kumar Garg is an electrical engineer who began his career with the Rajasthan State Electricity Board in 1991. Following the unbundling of the electricity board, he served in the state transmission company, Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Prasaran Nigam, and is currently working with the Rajasthan Electricity Regulatory Commission (RERC).
As Deputy Director (Distribution) at RERC, he handles matters related to electricity distribution, including regulating power procurement, distribution, supply, and usage. His responsibilities also include developing standards to ensure service quality, continuity, and reliability, as well as monitoring compliance by licensees. Additionally, he oversees the implementation of the supply code, consumer grievance redressal mechanisms, and other distribution-related functions.
Shweta has been actively engaged in the fields of energy efficiency, energy access, smart metering, and distributed renewable energy at Prayas. She has also contributed significantly to Prayas' initiatives on electricity supply quality and remote monitoring of residential energy consumption. Her areas of interest extend to climate change adaptation, urban development, and transport. Prior to joining Prayas, she worked in watershed development and IT consulting. In her leisure time, she enjoys trekking, birdwatching, cooking, and reading.
Simran Grover is the founder and CEO of the Centre for Energy, Environment, and People (CEEP), an initiative for energy equity and climate justice. The initiative is amongst the very few sub-national focused organisations in the country - enabling inclusion of diverse and marginal voices and meaningful action. He has substantive experience in the domains of renewable energy, power sector, applied research, and entrepreneurship. Currently, he leads critical work in just energy transition and power sector reforms, with emphasis on coalition building and collective action. He consistently writes on governance issues in the domain of electricity sector, energy transition, environment, and labour rights.
Date: 27 May, 2024
Time: 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Venue: Online
| Time | Event | Speaker |
|---|---|---|
| 03:00 - 03:10 PM | Introduction and Context Setting | Nikita Tiwari, CEEP |
| 03:10 - 03:20 PM | Electricity Supply Issues in Chandan, Jaisalmer: Farmers’ Perspective | Jaitmal Singh Bherwa, Vice President, Farmers’ Union, Chandan, Jaisalmer |
| 03:20 - 03:30 PM | An Overview of Electricity Issues and Challenges of Chandan, Jaisalmer | Nikita Tiwari, CEEP |
| 03:30 - 04:20 PM | Panel Discussion | Aiveer Singh Patavat, Farmer and Social Worker, Sanwala Village, Jaisalmer | Jetharam Choudhary, S.E., Jodhpur Discom (Retired) | P.K. Garg, Deputy Director (Technical), Rajasthan Electricity Regulatory Commission | Shweta Kulkarni, Prayas Energy Group | Moderator: Simran Grover, CEEP |
| 04:20 – 04:30 PM | Q&A | Reflections | Simran Grover, CEEP |
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