This year, farmers asked to sow paddy in four phases, first begins from June 10

To ensure smooth irrigation in a staggered manner, in the first phase transplantation in the areas beyond the fence across international border will start from June 10, for which regular power supply will be ensured to farmers, he said.

Mann said that uninterrupted power from June 16 will be ensured in the second phase to seven districts — Ferozepur, Faridkot, Pathankot, Sri Fatehgarh Sahib, Gurdaspur, SBS Nagar and Tarn Taran.

In the third phase, paddy transplantation will be ensured from June 19 in seven districts, including Rupnagar, SAS Nagar, Kapurthala, Ludhiana, Fazilka, Bathinda and Amritsar. In the remaining nine districts of Patiala, Jalandhar, Moga, Sri Muktsar Sahib, Hoshiarpur, Sangrur, Malerkotla, Barnala and Mansa, the crop transplantation will commence from June 21.

The chief minister said that in order to save the groundwater, the power supply for Direct Sowing of Rice (DSR) technique will start from May 20 across the state. A notification in this regard has already been issued by the state government.

He asked the farmers to refrain from sowing paddy before these dates and added that four hours power supply will be made available to the farmers for routine irrigation needs, including paddy nursery transplantation and vegetables.

Reiterating the firm commitment of the state government to ensure uninterrupted power supply during the paddy season, the chief minister said that a minimum eight hours of regular power supply will be ensured everyday.