MP joins relay fast for full water in Gang Canal

Lok Sabha Congress Member of Parliament (MP) Kuldeep Indora last evening joined a relay fast, demanding 2,500 cusecs of water in Gang Canal in Sriganganagar, 40 km from Abohar.

Leaders of the Congress, while continuing their dharna and chain fast for the fifth consecutive day, said even today, only 1,833 cusecs of water was released in Gang Canal from RD 45 headworks located near Ferozepur, whereas the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) had determined 2,500 cusecs of water.

Congress leaders said for the past three days, the Rajasthan Government had been claiming that the amount of water from Punjab had increased, but even now, about 1,800 cusecs of water was being released in Gang Canal from the Punjab area, and the volume was about 1,300 cusecs to the Khakhan headworks located on the Abohar-Sriganganagar boundary.

Announcing the next phase of the agitation, Congress leaders said on Monday, women farmers would sit on a dharna under the leadership of former Congress MLA Sona Devi Bawri, Mahila Congress district president Kamala Bishnoi, Congress district general secretary Namita Sethi, senior leader Bhupendra Kaur Tourna and Leftist leader Durga Swami.

The Arhtiya Association also announced to stage a dharna on June 22. Kisan Sabha spokesperson Ravinder Tarkhan said on June 23, the grain markets of the entire district in Sriganganagar would be closed and on June 24, the district administration activities would be hit.

Gang Canal Project Chairman Harvinder Singh Gill said there was very little possibility of getting more water in Gang Canal. Water reaches RD 45 head from three canals. These canals were Ferozepur Feeder, Old Bikaner Canal and Old Eastern Canal. About 4,100 cusecs of water was released from these canals today. Punjab is giving about 2,200 cusecs of water to its new Eastern Canal and the rest of the water to Gang Canal.