Farmers Movement Archive

Drive against canal water theft suspended over ‘political pressure’

Fazilka, July 23Two days after the state authorities launched a campaign against canal water theft, the drive remained suspended today.Hardeep Dhaka, sarpanch of Khanpur village, alleged the work could not be undertaken today due to political pressure and instructions by higher authorities.Dhaka said the authorities were to remove the plastic pipes being used in water theft between Chahlan to Chackpakhi villages, but the work was stopped midway.Vijay Singh Dudi, sarpanch of Kerian village, and Davinder Jhorar, former sarpanch of Dhaban village, said a deputation of nearly 50 farmers residing at the tail-end of the non-perennial canals met Fazilka Deputy Commissioner Arvind Pal Singh Sandhu today to lodge their protest. The DC assured that he would look into the matter.Despite repeated attempts, Tehal Singh, SDO (canals) who led the campaign, could not be contacted. Pawan Kumar, junior engineer (canals), who was also part of the official team, said the SDO (canals) was away to attend a meeting and he himself was busy in removing water hyacinth to prevent breach in canals. He brushed aside allegation of pressure from higher authorities.As many as 33 persons were booked on Thursday and over 80 pipes have been confiscated in the last few days.The information gathered by The Tribune reveals that some affluent persons and farmers have laid pipes in a clandestine manner to steal water.Farmers on fast over lack of water supplyAbohar: Irked at the Irrigation Department’s failure to ensure water supply to villages located on the tail-end of the canal system in Abohar and Balluana segments, members of the BKU Rajewal continued their dharna at the railway over-bridge on the Abohar-Hanumangarh highway on Friday. OC

The Tribune

2021-07-24