ABOHAR, June 4 — Farmers of a dozen villages in this subdivision who get water for irrigation from Lambi (sub-canal) have submitted a memorandum to the Union Agriculture and Irrigation Minister against suspension of water supply on each Monday and Tuesday, allegedly due to diversion of water for irrigating agriculture land in Chak Badal village in Rajasthan. It is believed that the family of the Punjab Chief Minister and his relatives own a lot of land at Chak Badal village. The opposition parties have often alleged that the land is held in fictitious names to evade the land ceiling act.

The farmers, including sarpanches and panches said they had often approached officials of the Irrigation Department here in this connection but they expressed inability to help and said they were helpless in this matter. Sometimes fifty per cent of supply was made on the two days though often supply was suspended.

This, the farmers said, had adversely affected sowing of cotton in time. In the past three-four years cotton growers have suffered heavy loss due to natural calamities and pests. This time they had changed the seed variety and the scorching heat was considered beneficial, but water was not available in time.

They requested that if at all canal water was to be supplied illegally to Chak Badal village, the burden should be divided on all the Subcanals. This would lessen the pinch. They said the policy of strangulating farmers dependent on Lambi Minor alone should be abandoned.

Signatories to the memorandum include Gurdip Singh, sarpanch Shergarh, Dharamvir ex-sarpanch Sherewala, Surat Singh ex-sarpanch Jhurarkhera, Badri Parsad ex-sarpanch Sherewala, Ajaib Singh ex-sarpanch Patttisadiq. They said these facts could easily be checked from the Xen and junior employees of the Irrigation Department. A copy of the memorandum has also been sent to the Chief Minister.

In another memorandum signed by the present sarpanch of Pattisadiq village some farmers expressed resentment over redesigning of their water outlets for irrigation in the subcanals. This, they said, had deprived them of sufficient supply of canal water for irrigation.

The memorandum said a deputation led by SAD MLA of Balluana constituency Mr Gurtej Singh, had met the Chief Minister to press that the step taken by the local officials of the Irrigation Department, be withdrawn. They claimed that the Superintendent Engineer had endorsed their view but nothing was done.