Poor canal water supply - Jakhar tells farmers to gear up for stir
Saturday, 30/08/2014
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20140830/punjab.htm#4
Abohar : Congress Legislature Party Leader Sunil Kumar Jakhar has told farmers of the sub-division to protest the poor canal water supply in villages located at the tail-end of canals. Addressing a meeting in Usmankhera, a village situated at the tail-end of the canals, he said there had only been a marginal improvement in the canal water supply even though he had met the state Irrigation Minister.
He said the authorities were biased in releasing water through the Sirhind Feeder and Abohar branch canal to this segment. “The officials are under pressure to divert our share of water to the neighbouring segments represented by top politicians,” he said.
Slamming the government for not releasing Rs 5 crore required to clean the canals in the sub-division for the past three years, Jakhar said this had given a big jolt to the agricultural economy. The much-publicised plans on diversification had fallen flat. The Punjab Mandi Board had been unfair to this segment in releasing funds for the repair of link roads and bridges.
He said, “Since all the efforts made inside the Vidhan Sabha as well as outside have failed to urge the government to develop the area, we will have to raise our voice.”
