Farmers Movement Archive

Revoke ‘unjustified’ tubewell norms, demand protesters in Karnal

Karnal, June 7Scores of farmers under the banner of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) staged a demonstration at the mini-secretariat here today in protest against the new norms introduced by the power corporation concerning the release of tubewell connections.As per the new rules, no connection will be released for land which falls under the command area of a canal.Sukhdayal, Karnal farmerFee deposited seven years agoThousands of farmers had deposited the fee around seven years ago. Now, the power corporation says the fee would be refunded if we don’t get the NOC from the Irrigation Department. Is this justified? Besides, it has become mandatory for farmers to get a no-objection certificate (NOC), which would clarify that their land does not fall under the command area of a canal, from the Irrigation Department. If the NOC is not obtained, the fee for the new tubewell connection would be refunded to farmers.The farmers demanded that the new rules must be withdrawn.Jagdeep Singh Aulakh, a member of the state core committee, BKU, said: “The new rules are meant to harass farmers.”Sukhdayal, another farmer, said: “From tomorrow, farmers across the state will protest against the power corporation’s unjustified norms. Thousands of farmers had deposited the fee around seven years ago. Now, the power corporation says the fee would be refunded if we don’t get the NOC from the Irrigation Department. Is this justified?”Bhadur Singh Mehla, BKU leader, said: “Farmers will continue to protest until the decision was taken back. Paddy transplantation will start soon, but farmers do not have tubwell connections to irrigate their fields.”

The Tribune

2021-06-08