Jaipur: Farmers in Sriganganagar district have launched an indefinite sit-in protest against the reduced water supply from Punjab, marking the second such demonstration in less than a year. The protest, organised by the ‘Kisan Sangarsh Morcha’, comes as farmers face severe irrigation challenges due to significantly diminished water flow through the Gang Canal.According to farmer representatives, Punjab is currently releasing only 600-700 cusecs of water through the Gang Canal from Harike Barrage, despite a committed quota of 2,000 cusecs as per the interstate agreement. “This has been an ongoing issue for the past three years, forcing us to protest every season,” said Amar Singh Bishnoi, a member of Kisan Sangarh Samiti.The situation has become particularly dire as the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) allocated 2,500 cusecs of water each to Rajasthan and Punjab for June. However, farmers claim that Punjab is utilising over 3,000 cusecs while Rajasthan receives barely 723 cusecs, which further reduces to 400 cusecs by the time it reaches Khakhan Head. The crisis has severely impacted agricultural activities in the region, with cotton and cottonseed sowing coming to a complete halt in the Ganga Canal area. Local Congress workers, led by Srikaranpur MLA Rupinder Singh Kooner, have joined the protest, establishing a demonstration site from Maharaja Ganga Singh Chowk to Central Jail.Despite multiple visits to water resources department offices and appeals to various authorities, including a recent letter to the state’s chief secretary, farmers say their concerns remain unaddressed. “We’ve met with every officer of the water resources department but nobody is paying attention to this critical issue,” said Subash Sehgal, a local farmer.The ongoing protest has resulted in the closure of the road from Bhagat Singh Chowk to the Collectorate, as farmers demand immediate intervention and their full share of water allocation.
Sriganganagar farmers protest water crisis as Punjab reduces supply to Raj | Jaipur News
