Barwani (Madhya Pradesh): Failing to get sufficient water from Indira Sagar canal for irrigating kharif crops, scores of farmers from Barwani district under banner of Bharatiya Kisan Sangh staged demonstration at district collector on Monday.
During protest, farmers put lock on the district collector office main entrance and remained there till evening. Farmers told officials that they will not open lock till water does not reach canal.
They did not budge though additional collector and SDM tried to persuade them to end agitation. The delegation of farmers also met collector. It was when Member of Parliament Gajendra Patel intervened that farmers opened the lock.
Kisan Sangh district president Mansharam Panchole said farmers narrated their plight to MP Patel and senior administrative officials and demanded to open gate of canal. To this, MP assured to release water in canal in two days after discussing matter with chief minister. Kisan Sangh office bearers said there was a discussion with collector Shivraj Singh Verma but he shrugged off saying there is nothing in his hands.
However, the collector formed a team consisting of farmers to inspect tunnel on Tuesday and report at a higher level. At the same time, delegation of Kisan Sangh will meet chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in Bhopal to discuss the matter.
Indira Sagar Project official wishing anonymity said water was being released in incomplete tunnel for six years. Now, it is being constructed. For this, information was given in November last year. He said water will be released in the canals by November for rabi crops.
