Tail-end villages face water shortage

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, February 21

Theft of water from a distributary by some villagers in Talwandi Sabo sub-division has lead to shortage of water in tail-end villages.

Residents of these villages today gathered near the distributary where water was being stolen by widening the openings of water outlets in Bangi distributary in Talwandi Sabo sub-division.

The Bangi distributary gets water from the Kotla branch. Through this distributary, many villages get water supply for irrigation and drinking.

The Bangi distributary supplies water from Kotfatta to Fallad village while Bagh and Shekhu villages come in the way where the dispute has come up.

Residents of Sekhu claimed that water from outlets was being taken away by the villages in excess as they had widened the openings of outlets that supply water to their agricultural fields.

This, they claim, has led to shortage of water for irrigation as well as drinking in many villages that get supply from Bangi distributary.

Dharmendra Singh of Shekhu said, “We have brought the matter to the notice of irrigation officials. However, they fear to take action against those behind the theft as officials believe it would lead to clashes. Residents of Bagh and other villages are taking away our share of water by widening the openings of water outlets. These tamper with the shape of outlets that was originally allowed by the Irrigation Department for equal distribution of water.”

However, SDO DD Goyal said, “Some villagers had informed us about the matter just a few days ago and we will look into the matter.”