New force cracks down on farmers for water theft

Officials of the Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Limited (SSNNL) at Kevadia Colony in Narmada district said the errant farmers had been warned that such an act would amount to theft and they would be penalised for lifting water from the canal.

A senior SSNNL official said the Narmada Battalion,assigned the security of the dam site and canal from February 1 this year,has so far identified over 30 cases where farmers were using generator sets to draw water from main canal along the 33-kilometre stretch from the dam site in Narmada.

“We have identified vulnerable points where to deploy Narmada Battalion personnel,” the official said.

Farmers say they use generator sets to draw water from the canal because they have no other source of water to irrigate their farms,where they have sown maize and cotton.

“Ours is the first village from Narmada dam site towards canal route,but unfortunately our land does not get canal water because the minor canal running along our village does not carry water due to technical fault. Government should first rectify technical fault so we could get canal water,” said Jasang Tadvi,a farmer from Bhumalia,the village nearest to the dam site.

Ishwarbhai Tadvi of Aamalda village,also situated near the dam site,has similar grouse. “There is no system of irrigation in our village,despite the main canal running not very far from our fields. Government should first ensure we get water to irrigate before penalising us like this,” he said.

The Narmada Battalion,maintained by the SSNNL,was formed with personnel drawn from the State Reserve Police. It was deployed at the dam site and along the canal route on February 1. Around 200 personnel are currently keeping vigil on identified vulnerable points along the canal route to prevent water theft,which will gradually go up to over 1,000,the SSNNL official said.

The farmers are penalised for stealing water from canal under the state government’s Gujarat Irrigation Act 1879,which is soon likely to be replaced by the proposed Gujarat Irrigation and Drainage Bill,2013,tabled in state Assembly during the ongoing budget session.

The Bill prescribes penal action against farmers drawing canal or underground water without licence,including three-month imprisonment and fine up to Rs 5,000.

Narmada Battalion

Narmada Battalion was formed by the SSNNL to guard Narmada dam site and 458-kilometre-long main canal route with personnel drawn from State Reserve Police. Apart from dam,the Battalion also keeps vigil on farmers drawing water illegally from canal. It is headquartered at Kevadia Colony in Narmada district and is currently deployed along the main canal route near Narmada dam,Dhrangadhra in Surendranagar district and Dhandhuka in Ahmedabad.