Load shedding in Karnataka’s Vijayapura has been troubling citizens as it is but has also seriously inconvenienced crocodiles now. You read that right. In a bizarre turn of events, the farmers who were protesting load shedding took a crocodile to the Hubli Electricity Supply Company Limited (HESCOM) office.
The incident occurred on 19th October. The farmers reportedly spotted a massive crocodile in a field at Ronihala village after which they tied the reptile and took it to the power station where HESCOM officials were present.
The farmers placed the crocodile in front of HESCOM officials and demanded uninterrupted three-phase electricity during daylight hours as their crops were withering.
The farmers questioned the officials as to what steps they would take if someone was bitten by a snake, scorpion, or crocodile and died during the night.
“Every night authorities supply three-phase electricity, necessitating our visits to the fields for irrigation. In these fields, we encounter various wild creatures, including crocodiles. In the event of any issues, who holds responsibility? Regrettably, we do not reap any advantages from the night-time electricity supply; it often exacerbates our problems. As a symbolic act, we have introduced crocodiles to help convey our challenges to the authorities,” one of the protesting farmers said.
A farmer had reportedly encountered the crocodile while he was watering his crops out in the field.
Forest officials later rescued the crocodile and set it free in the Almatti River. However, the issue of load shedding remains unresolved.
