Sirsa farmers seek urgent dredging of silted Ottu Lake

The Ottu Lake, once a crucial water source for farmers in the region, is now facing neglect. Built to store water from the Ghaggar river, the lake has become heavily silted and can now retain water for only 7 to 10 days. Farmers allege that government inaction has reduced it to a mere name.

Inaugurated on December 31, 2001, by then Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala, Ottu Lake spans roughly 1,200 acres, including 200 acres under the Forest Department. The lake, with a depth of about 2.2 metres, stretches from Dhanur village to Ottu. Excavation work had begun during former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda’s tenure but was later halted amid allegations of corruption. Even with regular water release, the lake cannot support irrigation for the surrounding farmland.

Farmers have demanded that the lake’s main channel be dredged to a depth of 15-25 ft and widened to 200 ft to enable year-round water storage and prevent flooding.

Local leaders have expressed concern over the lake’s deteriorating condition. Swarn Singh Virk, Member of the Zila Lok Panchayat, said the BJP government claims to support farmers but is ignoring Ottu Lake’s plight. He urged authorities to provide the excavated soil to farmers free of cost. Harjinder Singh, vice-president of the National Kisan Manch, said repeated petitions had been ignored, emphasising the need for immediate dredging to restore irrigation. Sukhdev Singh Kaka, convener of the Bhagat Singh Vichar Manch, also called for dredging up to 15-20 feet deep to maximise water storage from the Ghaggar.

AAP district head Harpinder Singh (Happy Rania) suggested that if the government cannot fund the work, farmers should be permitted to carry it out themselves. Congress leader Boota Singh Thind warned that the lake drains almost immediately after rainfall, damaging crops and urged the government to act without delay.

In response, Sandeep Kumar, XEN of the Irrigation Department, said dredging work will be undertaken in June in line with the Chief Minister’s announcement, when the lake typically dries up. At present, water continues to flow into the lake and is being distributed through connected canals, making excavation impossible, he said. He added that the lake currently stores only about a week’s supply of water, with inflow still continuing.

Farmers and local representatives unanimously agree that proper dredging and regular maintenance of Ottu Lake are essential to ensure a year-round water supply and safeguard agriculture in the Rania region.