Times News NetworkJaipur: Hours after the Rajasthan govt declared a breakthrough in the nearly two-decade-old Panchana Dam water-sharing dispute by releasing water into the command area canals and the Gambhir River, fresh tensions surfaced Monday evening when a technical snag halted the flow to the command area.Farmers from the command area in Sawai Madhopur district, alleging that canal water did not reach them as promised, blocked two key roads in Karauli district, demanding immediate restoration of the supply. Protesters staged road blockades on the Hindaun-Mahavirji-Nadoti road and near Katkar village on the Hindaun-Karauli road, disrupting traffic and affecting normal movement.Police and district administration officials reached the protest sites and held negotiations with the agitating farmers, who refused to lift the blockade until water started flowing into the canals. The protests continued till the time of filing the report. A senior police officer said, “There is no violence and clash. We are trying to appease the farmers as water will reach gate that was stopped due to technical snag.” Officials clarified that the disruption was caused by an unexpected mechanical failure at the dam .A senior engineer in the Water Resources Department said two rear gates and one front gate of Panchana Dam had been opened to ensure smooth supply to the command area canals. “However, due to a sudden technical fault, the front gate dropped back into position, completely stopping the flow of water. An NDRF team and divers have been called to the site to resolve the technical problem. The administration is closely monitoring the situation, and water supply to the command area will be restored at the earliest,” he said.Earlier in the day, Water Resources minister Suresh Rawat and Minister of State for Home and Karauli district in-charge Jawahar Singh Bedham inaugurated two lift irrigation projects worth Rs 61 crore at Gudla village before three gates of the dam, including Gate No. 4, were opened after warning sirens to release water into the canals and the Gambhir River.Farmers in Karauli’s catchment area had staged a 41-day sit-in demanding lift irrigation projects, while farmers in the command area protested for 20 days seeking canal water.An offical said, “The Panchana Dam dispute has persisted for nearly 20 years, with claims from farmers in 39 catchment villages, 35 command area villages and nearly 360 villages dependent on the Gambhir River for irrigation. The deadlock was resolved after a series of meetings involving ministers Suresh Rawat, Jawahar Singh Bedham and Agriculture Minister Kirori Lal Meena,”Conceived in 1972 as a flood-control project on the Gambhir River, Panchana Dam became operational in 2005, but disagreements over water sharing continued, even reaching the Rajasthan High Court.. On Monday, the reservoir level stood at 254.75 metres against its full reservoir level of 258.62 metres.
