Sirsa farmers protest lack of water supply

Sirsa, August 23

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Farmers have expressed their frustration over the problem of lack of water in Sirsa. Recently, a team comprising Duty Magistrates and officials of the Irrigation Department had visited the village to address their concerns regarding the lack of water supply from the Ghaggar flood channels, but the farmers say that they returned without making any progress.

The growers, furious over the water not reaching the tail end of the flood channels, have intensified their protest.

Two days ago, hundreds of farmers from Karamgarh, Shekhupuria, Jodhpuria, Peerkhera and Chakka Bhuna gathered and approached the District Magistrate. They said water was not reaching the end of the flood channels and was being diverted into wells from illegal pipes installed from Jhorarnali Head to Dhottar-Kharian.

In response to their complaint, the District Magistrate appointed three Duty Magistrates to address the issue. Tehsildar Bhuvnesh Kumar was assigned to remove illegal pipes from the Rattakhera Kharif channel, Naib Tehsildar Lokesh Kumar was tasked with the GBSM canal and Executive Engineer Sushil Sevara from the Irrigation Department’s vigilance team was assigned at the Naiwala Kharif channel.

When the officials arrived at the site, farmers assembled to stage a protest. They announced that they would stop using borewells and close their tubewells for three days a week until the water reached the tail end of the channel. They claimed that large, illegal 24-inch pipes installed along the flood channel between Dhottar and Kharian were obstructing the water flow.

Despite the farmers’ protests, the officials left without taking any action. Duty Magistrate Sushil Sevara said a report would be submitted to higher authorities and action would be based on their orders.