Jaipur: Efforts to resolve the Panchana Dam water dispute made little progress Thursday after an administrative meeting to address the standoff was attended only by representatives from the command area in Sawai Madhopur seeking release of water, while the group opposing the move stayed away.The meeting, chaired by Bharatpur Divisional Commissioner Nalini Kathotia, heard submissions from the command area delegation, but no representatives from Karauli district—where villagers have been guarding the Panchana Dam to prevent water release—participated.Sawai Madhopur Collector Kana Ram said, “The concerns and demands of the other side would be heard Friday, as they did not attend the meeting since there was a mahapanchayat in their area today.”In Karauli’s Hindaun City, farmers—predominantly from the Gujjar community—held a mahapanchayat in the Devlen area demanding that water from Panchana Dam be released into the Gambhir River for their region’s irrigation needs. Farmers from Hindaun, Bayana and Bharatpur participated in large numbers, citing concerns over a weak monsoon and potential impact on kharif crops if water supply is delayed.Ashok Dhabhai, president of the Panchana Hudla Sangharsh Samiti, said, “We had already informed the administration that we would not participate in the meeting. However, a memorandum was submitted to home minister Jawahar Singh Bedham, who was present in the district.”Residents said more than 300 villages in Hindaun, Bayana, and Bharatpur lie along the Gambhir River. Protesters demanded regular releases from Panchana Dam into the river and urged the govt to expedite the proposed Chambal–Panchana–Jagar and Gambhir River lift project as a long-term solution for irrigation and drinking water shortages.Gangapur City MLA Ramkesh Meena, backing release of water to the command area, accused the govt of complicating the issue and alleged the home minister was favouring the Gujjar community. “He (Bedham) went to Karauli to receive a memorandum, but he did not come to farmers in Sawai Madhopur who have been protesting for many days,” the Congress MLA said.Former deputy CM Sachin Pilot urged the state govt to play an active role in preventing caste tensions, saying all regions need water and people have faith in the judiciary.For GFX–Key points:Farmers in Sawai Madhopur’s command area are demanding implementation of high court orders to release dam water into canalsCanals have allegedly remained dry for nearly 20 years, affecting irrigation and drinking water supplies in 35 villages of Sawai MadhopurThe demand for release of water is primarily backed by farmers from the Meena communityMembers of the Gujjar community in neighbouring Karauli district are opposing the releaseGujjars want water supplied first to 39 villages around the dam that cannot access irrigation through gravity-fed canals
