JAIPUR: Demanding water from Punjab, farmers’ associations in Sriganganagar organised a tractor rally and started an indefinite protest at the collectorate office of the district on Monday.
The farmers are protesting against the state government for not taking up the issue with the Punjab government over releasing water from the Ganga Canal.
Farmers alleged that Punjab had stopped supplying water by diverting water from the Harike barrage. If the situation continues for another three to four days, it would severely affect their crops sown on 5,00,000 hectares of farmland in the district. The state government sources, however, said that the Punjab government had informed them that the supply was affected due to technical problems.
“As per a pre-partition agreement with the maharaja of Bikaner, Rajasthan should receive 2,800 cusecs of water per day from the Gang Canal,” said Amar Singh Bishnoi, a member of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha.
Farmers say peak time for irrigation of crops
“As per a pre-partition agreement with the maharaja of Bikaner, Rajasthan should receive 2,800 cusecs of water per day from the Ganga Canal. This is the peak time that we require water for crops. The state government had sent a requisition to Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) to release our maximum share of water. Though the BBMB is supplying water, the Punjab government is diverting water from the Harike headworks,” said Amar Singh Bishnoi, a member of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha and president of All India Kisan Sangharsh Samiti – one of the four unions of the joint forum.
For the last few days, the farmers’ bodies have constantly blocked the Sadhuwali check-post on National Highway 64 that connects Abohar in Punjab with Pindwara in Rajasthan.
Based on reports from the BBMB, the farmers’ bodies have alleged that the Punjab government has been depriving Rajasthan of their quota of water and letting 3,000 cusecs of water flow into Pakistan daily.
“Over the years, BJP, Akali Dal and the Congress have ruled Punjab. There have been occasional problems with all these governments over the release of our legitimate share of water. But this is the first time that Punjab is not supplying any water to Rajasthan. The state government is also not taking any action,” said Subhash Sehgal, the spokesperson of the All India Kisan Sangharsh Samiti.
Officials of the state water resources department stated that they had no role in this issue and the Punjab government had informed that they were unable to release the water due to technical issues.
“However, the government released 1,000 cusecs of water on Sunday, and it will reach Rajasthan in three days,” assured the official.
The farmers are protesting against the state government for not taking up the issue with the Punjab government over releasing water from the Ganga Canal.
Farmers alleged that Punjab had stopped supplying water by diverting water from the Harike barrage. If the situation continues for another three to four days, it would severely affect their crops sown on 5,00,000 hectares of farmland in the district. The state government sources, however, said that the Punjab government had informed them that the supply was affected due to technical problems.
“As per a pre-partition agreement with the maharaja of Bikaner, Rajasthan should receive 2,800 cusecs of water per day from the Gang Canal,” said Amar Singh Bishnoi, a member of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha.
Farmers say peak time for irrigation of crops
“As per a pre-partition agreement with the maharaja of Bikaner, Rajasthan should receive 2,800 cusecs of water per day from the Ganga Canal. This is the peak time that we require water for crops. The state government had sent a requisition to Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) to release our maximum share of water. Though the BBMB is supplying water, the Punjab government is diverting water from the Harike headworks,” said Amar Singh Bishnoi, a member of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha and president of All India Kisan Sangharsh Samiti – one of the four unions of the joint forum.
For the last few days, the farmers’ bodies have constantly blocked the Sadhuwali check-post on National Highway 64 that connects Abohar in Punjab with Pindwara in Rajasthan.
Based on reports from the BBMB, the farmers’ bodies have alleged that the Punjab government has been depriving Rajasthan of their quota of water and letting 3,000 cusecs of water flow into Pakistan daily.
“Over the years, BJP, Akali Dal and the Congress have ruled Punjab. There have been occasional problems with all these governments over the release of our legitimate share of water. But this is the first time that Punjab is not supplying any water to Rajasthan. The state government is also not taking any action,” said Subhash Sehgal, the spokesperson of the All India Kisan Sangharsh Samiti.
Officials of the state water resources department stated that they had no role in this issue and the Punjab government had informed that they were unable to release the water due to technical issues.
“However, the government released 1,000 cusecs of water on Sunday, and it will reach Rajasthan in three days,” assured the official.
