Irrigation dept supplies water to Malukpura at Panjawa sub-canal’s expense; farmers livid

On Saturday, the irrigation department gave in to the demands of the farmers and supplied water to Malukpura minor at full capacity by taking away more than 50% water from Panjawa minor.

“Those living at the tail-end of villages like Daulatpura, Gumjal had threatened to start a hunger strike from Saturday, as Malukpura minor was seen flowing at full capacity carrying 600 cusecs of water. This was at the expense of Panjawa minor which was flowing at less than half its capacity carrying hardly 200 cusecs of water. This is not the way to provide water to the farmers living at the tail-end of the sub-canal,” said Darshan Singh, a farmer of Giddranwali village.

Panjawa minor too supplies water to more than 20 villages.

“In the afternoon, when farmers which get water from Panjawa minor threatened to protest by climbing atop a water tank, the water supply to Panjawa sub-canal was also made around 400 cusecs, that is, at full capacity,” said Sukhmandar Singh, president of BKU Rajewal, Fazilka district, while speaking to The Indian Express.

Darshan Singh said, “A few farmers had threatened to go on hunger strike, while a few others threatened to climb atop a water tank in protest against this unequal distribution of water. It was only then we got proper water supply in both sub-canals which is our basic right. On the other hand, Gang Canal which goes to Rajasthan after taking water from Harike headworks in Ferozepur carries 2,500 cusecs of water. While in Punjab we are protesting to get water, Rajasthan is getting it in abundance. But the first right to get water is of Punjab residents.”

Sources revealed that there is existence of silt deposits in Malukpura minor at various locations, and as it is carrying water at full capacity, there is a risk of breach in the sub-canal.

Irrigation department officials have also not denied the existence of silt deposits at a few locations in this sub-canal. “Due to silt deposits, the sub-canal should run a little below its full capacity, but in that case, the farmers living at the tail-end of the sub-canal wouldn’t get water,” said an official on the condition of anonymity while speaking to The Indian Express.

Abohar Branch Canal carries water from Ferozepur feeder emerging from Harike headworks. This Abohar branch gets bifurcated into Malukpura minor and Panjawa minor which further get bifurcated into several small water channels, as a large part of south-west Punjab is dependent on canal water because the groundwater is unfit for drinking and irrigation purposes.

Even as this high drama was unfolding on Saturday, the irrigation department transferred a sub-divisional officer, Jaswinder Singh Virk, who was replaced by Gurpal Singh.

Farmers from both sides had gathered at Sarawan headworks on Saturday afternoon when water supply was unequal in both sub-canals, although the necessary course correction was made later. Sarawan is a point from where Abohar Branch Canal bifurcates into Malukpura minor and Panjawa minor.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Fazilka Deputy Commissioner Senu Kapila Duggal said, “We supplied water to Malukpura minor at full capacity so that the tail-end villagers could make use of it. Their crop needs water. When the issue of Panjawa minor came to light, we resolved that problem as well. We need to make a long-term plan to address this water shortage issue in Balluana and Abohar constituencies, and the flooding issue in Fazilka and Jalalabad constituencies. There are two contrasting problems in two parts of the same district. However we are here to reach out to the farmers.”