Hanumangarh and Sriganganagar farmers to get more water for 18 days

JAIPUR: Taking a serious note of the agitation by farmers in Hanumagarh and Sriganganagar over more water for their mustard and wheat crops, the irrigation department's water regulation committee took decision to increase water supply from Indira Gandhi Nahar Project (IGNP) in its meeting held at Hanumangarh on Tuesday.

In the meeting, it was decided that farmers will get increased amount of water from December 4 to December 21. But, farmers are demanding water till March next year.

At present, farmers get water for seven days and get no water for next 17 days. However, from December 4 to December 21, the water will be given in a gap of seven days.

"On January 10, we will call a review meeting in which we will decide if we can further increase the water supply. It all depends on inflow of water to Pong Dam and Ranjit Sagar Dam, which are the sources of water in Hanumagarh and Sriganganagar," said Rajendra Bhadu, MLA, Suratgarh.

He said that increase in water supply depends on the availability of water. The decision has been taken considering the availability of water. "In winters, if it rains, the inflow of water increases, in such a situation, we may increase the supply of water further," he said.

In the meeting, MLAs from Suratgarh, Anupgarh, Raisinghnagar, Pilibanga and Sangaria discussed the water problem in their areas.

However, agitating farmers are not happy with the decision.

"We have demanded that increased water supply should continue till March. If we do not get water till March, our crops will suffer," said Pawan Duggal, a farmer leader.

He said that the committee has decided that farmers will get water for seven days and won't get it in the next seven days. It is a cycle from December 4 till December 21.

Duggal said that they will continue their agitation.