Minister flags discrimination as rural areas face power cuts, cities get steady supply

The minister highlighted that villages across the country are enduring regular load‑shedding, while urban centres continue to receive an uninterrupted electricity supply. He described the disparity as a form of discrimination against rural consumers, urging authorities to address the imbalance.
He pointed out that the current power allocation framework appears to favour cities, where industrial and commercial activities are prioritized, leaving farmers and households in the countryside with frequent outages that affect daily life and agricultural productivity.
The power ministry responded that efforts are underway to upgrade transmission infrastructure and balance supply, but acknowledged the need for a more equitable distribution strategy to ensure that rural areas receive reliable electricity.
Stakeholders, including state electricity boards, have been asked to review load‑shedding schedules and accelerate ongoing projects aimed at reducing the gap between urban and rural power availability.