Farm unions to launch stir to save Punjab waters

To protect Punjab’s water resources from pollution, depletion and diversion to non-riparian states, farm unions led by BKU (Rajewal) will launch a statewide agitation.

Activists of various unions will fan out across the state from February 6 to mobilise public support before starting a full-fledged agitation to save Punjab’s waters.

BKU (Rajewal) president Balbir Singh Rajewal said the issue was discussed at a meeting of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM). Several constituent unions had extended support to the initiative, he added.

Rajewal said highly contaminated groundwater was leading to cancer “pandemic”, while the fast-depleting water table was a serious concern for farmers and the society at large.

He alleged the political leadership was ignoring these issues and warned against any move to share river waters through the SYL canal following recent meetings between the CMs of Punjab and Haryana.

Rajewal said past water-sharing agreements had been against Punjab and claimed that resolutions seeking royalty from Rajasthan had not been acted upon. He said farmers would now take the issue directly to the people.

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