Abohar, August 21

A protest was organised outside the Irrigation Department’s office by members of the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Sidhpur) here today over the closure of a canal. The protest lasted for about seven hours. The farmers demanded water should be released in the sub-canals and full supply should be ensured for a month without any further closure.

BKU (Sidhpur) convener Jagjit Singh said farmers had already suffered a lot because of the damage to the crops. Later, at a meeting with Sub-Divisional Engineer (SDE) Gurbir Singh Sandhu, it was decided that after a week’s closure, water would be released in sub-canals. The SDE said water would continue to flow in Sukhchain Minor, Maujgarh, Dalmirkhera, Ramsara sub-canals without interruption. The dharna was lifted in the evening. — OC