Unions up in arms over concrete lining of canals; Mudki Morcha says it will oppose AAP candidate

A dharna has been going on near twin canals passing through Ferozepur district near Ghall Khurd village since March 15. The location of the dharna is National Highway-5. The protesters have been up in arms over concrete lining of Rajasthan and Sirhind canals – also called twin canals – which pass through Harike in Punjab’s Ferozepur district.

The protesters say that the concrete lining of the canals will affect natural recharging of water and hence it will
take a toll on the groundwater level as well.

On Wednesday, Bholath Congress MLA Sukhpal Khaira and farmer leader Harnek Singh Mehma addressed the demonstrators who had gathered in large numbers at the protest site. Farmer leader Lakha Sidhana, who unsuccessfully contested Punjab assembly elections from Maur constituency on Sanyukt Samaj Morcha ticket, also addressed the gathering.

“At the protest rally, a resolution was passed to oppose the AAP candidate in the upcoming Jalandhar parliamentary bypoll for which the protesters will also go to Jalandhar,” said Ajaypal Singh Brar, convener of Mudki Morcha.

He said, “First of all Rajasthan canal takes water from Punjab and it goes to Rajasthan. They are taking our share of water. And if concrete lining of the canal is done, it will stop the recharging of water. We need to get serious about saving water.”

Rajasthan canal starts from Harike, it passes through Faridkot, Ferozepur and Muktsar districts before entering Rajasthan. Sirhind canal originates from Ropar and heads southwest to Doraha in Ludhiana district. At Doraha it splits into three – Abohar branch, Bathinda branch and Patiala branch. Each of these further splits extensively to irrigate a large area of Malwa region (Punjab).

A similar protest had also been launched by Kirti Kisan Union in Faridkot near the banks of the twin canals
(Rajasthan and Sirhind).

Rajinder Singh Deep Singh Wala, general secretary of Kirti Kisan Union, said, “We launched our dharna on March 29. On April 11, we will hold a massive gathering at this place. Eight other farmer unions of Faridkot and a few NGOs in Faridkot city have also joined us for this cause. The canal department had stopped water supply to these canals on March 24. While a part of concrete lining has been done in both canals, people in Faridkot are opposed to this project. Officials need to give us a valid reason for concrete lining. They are saying that this will help in managing waterlogging in southwest Punjab. But there are areas where there is no waterlogging issue, we fail to understand why they are doing concrete lining in those stretches.”

At Ghall Khurd in Ferozepur, Lakha Sidhana while addressing the gathering said, “If any project related to concrete lining of canals starts, villagers should block the machinery moving towards the canal.”
Mudki Morcha-led protesters also threatened to launch a dharna inside the canal if the project goes ahead. “It’s possible because the canal is running dry these days,” the protesters claimed.

Hardeep Singh Mehandiratta, superintendent engineer (SE), canals, Harike headworks, when contacted, said, “This project is for Rajasthan and Sirhind canals and lining of canals is the need of the hour as they are in bad shape.
Moreover, southwest Punjab has been facing waterlogging problem for long. This project is meant to get rid of the waterlogging issue in those districts. We have addressed this point repeatedly to people in many districts, including Faridkot. However, work has been stalled for the time being.”

Deep Singh Wala said, “Concrete lining of canals is being done arbitrarily irrespective of the fact whether a patch of area has waterlogging issue or not. They haven’t given us any scientific reason to support this project. On the one hand Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann talks about saving water, on the other the government is in favour of this project.”