Canal water diverted to pvt thermal plant at Rajpura, farmers protest

Fatehgarh Sahib, July 13

Hundreds of farmers led by SKM leader Gurpreet Singh staged a dharna at Isherhail village on the Sirhind-Chandigarh road and disrupted traffic for eight hours over diversion of canal water to a private thermal plant at Rajpura.

As a result, traffic jams were witnessed, causing inconvenience to commuters, particularly those heading to Chandigarh for job, treatment and studies.

The police and civil administration officials rushed to the scene and tried to persuade the protesters to lift the blockade. The protesters raised slogans against the government and demanded immediate supply of canal water for irrigation.

Farm leader Gurpreet Singh said the diversion of water would affect the paddy crop. The state government was not heeding to their demands, which would cost it dear in the upcoming Assembly elections, he warned.

The dharna was lifted after the Fatehgarh Sahib SDM and the DSP intervened and the Irrigation Department released the water for farmers. — OC