Dry fields, rising anger: Sirsa farmers battle canal chaos, crop uncertainty

Farmers in Sirsa are grappling with a deepening water crisis that is threatening irrigation and drinking water supply. A delay in the release of the regular canal water schedule — usually implemented by May 21 — has stalled the sowing of essential crops like cotton and guar. The crisis has been further aggravated by a damaged siphon at the Ottu Head on the Hisar-Ghaggar drain, which has disrupted the water flow to major canals, including the Sheranwali Parallel, SGC Canal and Kuttabadh Minor. Farmer leaders have accused the Irrigation Department of gross mismanagement and suspect that water allocated for Sirsa is being diverted elsewhere. They are demanding a full investigation into the matter. The shift from cotton to the more water-intensive paddy crop has only increased the urgency for timely and adequate water distribution.