Farmers on toes to check canal water theft

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, June 17

Canal water theft has become a major concern for farmers in the Lambi Assembly segment. To stop the theft of water, some farmers have started keeping a vigil overnight. They had even caught some farmers red-handed in the past.

Recently, some farmers of Kolianwali, Dabwali Malko Ki and Shamkhera villages laid a naka along the Abul Khurana minor during night hours and found some water pipes that were used to lift canal water illegally.

The farmers alleged that Irrigation Department officials first did not release adequate water in the minors and now were unable to check water thefts as well.

“We are left to protect our rights ourselves. We have lodged a report with the police as well, but they too have not registered any case so far. As a result, farmers of neighbouring villages are stealing water with impunity,” said the farmers.

Nempal Singh, a farmer of Dabwali Malko Ki village, said, “The farmers of neighbouring villages have been caught red-handed stealing water. Last year too, they were caught stealing water. Even a pipe was found installed illegally a few days ago. However, the department never took action against them.”

Varinder Singh, another farmer, said, “We are getting very less supply of water to our fields. Even last year, we had blocked a road in protest, but still nobody seems to be bothered to take any action.”

Dharampal, SHO of the Lambi police station, said, “We have received a complaint of water theft and started investigations.”

The paddy sowing season is about to begin and farmers need plenty of water to irrigate their fields to prepare it for sowing. They are lodging protests at the PSPCL offices across the state demanding 16-hour power supply to lift underground water to meet the shortage of canal water.