Farmers rally against decision to disallow water supply for paddy

Under strict police arrangements,the farmers took out a rally from Jehangirpura in Rander to the district collector’s office at the Nanpura Bahumali building.

The farmers shouted slogans against the officials and later handed over a memorandum to J B Vohra,the in-charge collector and District Development Officer of Surat.

According to the farmers,the Irrigation Department had decided to give 2,400 cusecs of water through a canal but were supplying only 1,600 cusecs. Besides,the officials were collecting water charges at higher rates of interest,they said.

“At present,the decision was taken by the Irrigation department that the supply of water should be stopped for the summer paddy crops as the water level in Ukai Dam is not maintained and it also affects hydropower generation. The government should rethink on the decision and supply sufficient water to the farmers during summer as it does not affect the water rule level of the Ukai Dam,” said a farmer.

“The power company is supplying irregular power for six to seven hours to the farmers for irrigation,and the government should rethink and supply regular power for 14 hours,” he added.

Farmers’ convener Jayesh Patel said: “We have put forward our demands to the government and now it is up to them to rethink over the decision of the Irrigation Department.” He added: “Nearly two lakh farmers of Surat,Tapi,Navsari and some parts of Valsad districts have been affected by the water supply. If the government fails to take any step,our agitation will turn violent. We are ready for a hunger strike.”

The Executive Engineer of Surat Irrigation Department,Dhangar said the decision has been taken by a committee comprising the MP and MLAs of Surat,Navsari,Tapi and Valsad districts with the Agriculture officer and the Superintendent Engineer of the Irrigation Department.

“We have found that if water is supplied to these farmers for the summer paddy crops,then there would be a shortage of drinking water in all the affected districts. Due to the delay in the monsoon season there is water shortage in the Ukai dam. The decision was taken keeping this in mind,” he said.