Fazilka, May 9

Farmers of the Jalalabad area have again opposed the construction of Rana minor canal being carved out to supply canal-based water for irrigation to some Guruharsahai villages.

They staged a protest and blocked the Fazilka-Ferozepur highway under the banner of “Nehri Paani Bachao Sangharsh Committee” led by its leader Gurwinder Singh Mannewala.

The government has proposed construction of the canal, which will draw water from non-perennial Nizamwa canal and supply it to some Guruharsahai villages in Ferozepur district. Mannewal said the tail-end villagers were already facing shortage of water and the construction of the new canal would further worsen the situation. Senior Irrigation Department officials assured the farmers of considering their demand favourably. The farmers later lifted the dharna. — OC